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FIANNA FÁIL’S ONLY backbench TD has been moved back onto the front bench in a party reshuffle announced this evening.
Éamon Ó Cuív, who had resigned as deputy leader of the party in protest in February and had been relegated to the backbenches, is now spokesperson for Agriculture, Food, and Community Affairs.
Willie O’Dea has been moved to Social Protection while Charlie McConalogue, who was elected as a TD for the first time in 2011, is now spokesperson for Education.
Announcing the reshuffle this evening, party leader Micheál Martin said that the party was focused on “providing robust and constructive opposition”.
Micheál Martin did not announce a new deputy leader of the party. The position had been vacant since Éamon Ó Cuív stood down in February in a row over Fianna Fáil’s stance on the Fiscal Compact referendum.
The party went from 77 seats in the 2007 election to 20 seats in the 2011 general election.
The Fianna Fáil front bench in full:
Micheál Martin - Leader and Northern Ireland
Seán Ó Fearghaíl - Whip; Constitutional Reform; Arts & Culture; Defence
Willie O’Dea - Social Protection & Social Equality
Barry Cowen - Environment & Local Government
Billy Kelleher - Health
Brendan Smith - Foreign Affairs & Trade; Border Region Development
Charlie McConalogue - Education & Skills
Dara Calleary - Enterprise, Jobs & Innovation
John Browne - Marine & Fisheries
John McGuinness - Small Business & Regulatory Framework
Micheál Kitt - Housing, Planning& Gaeltacht Affairs
Michael McGrath - Finance
Michael Moynihan - Communications, Energy & Natural Resources
Niall Collins - Justice and Equality
Robert Troy - Children
Seán Fleming - Public Expenditure & Public Sector Reform
Timmy Dooley - Transport, Tourism & Sport
Seamus Kirk - Horticulture & Rural Affairs
Éamon Ó Cuív - Agriculture & Food, Community Affairs
Darragh O’Brien - Seanad Leader and Dublin Spokesperson
Jim O’Callaghan - Legal Advisor
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Pity they’re not blocked in the Republic as well
@Brian Pocock: Ha ha very good, and the Nordies don’t know how lucky they are.
Does Brendan Smith not
understand how exclusive television rights work
I was thinking that why worry about people that don’t pay the licence but there’s a lot down here the same
Won’t bother some of us coz we have no interest in the Olympics news and will be avoiding the local pub coz of same
@liam ward: You mean you’ve no interest in which country has the best performance enhancing drugs?
@liam ward: we know. You told us yesterday in the poll. I normally just don’t interact with things I’m not interested in!!
I thought there was 32 counties in The Republic of Ireland?
@Ray Dunne: 32 counties on The Republic of Island of Ireland? OK, gotcha!
@Ray Dunne: there are 32 counties in Ireland. The term “island of Ireland” makes no geographical sense as Ireland comprises a number of islands
Pardon my ignorance, but perhaps someone can tell me what exactly is Geo Blocking?
How does it work?
And if someone has an aerial, then…
…well, how does it work?
And who does this GeoBlocking?
The broadcaster (e.g. RTE)?
Or the authorities in GeoBlocked affected areas?
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: just stick a hanger ( metal one) in the back of the telly ye be grand. Even repeats glenroe…
@Paul Gorry: So, it’s a sort of time machine then?
Does that mean similar programmes of BBC in Northern Ireland are blocked in the Republic?
HA haha haha ha! I’m sure they were missed…NOT!!!
One nation is coming and the little bellies and ffg can cry in thier cornflakes
have your say