Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald this morning announced her new frontbench with eleven changes from the previous team.
She said: “This is a frontbench in which women are represented equally and which is regionally balanced and we intend to go toe to toe with this government from day one.
Ms McDonald said:
“I am proud to announce our new frontbench this morning. It is a team in which women are represented equally and which is regionally balanced so that the voices of people in every region are represented.
“There are 11 changes to the previous frontbench and two first time TDs have been appointed – Joanna Byrne and Donna McGettigan. It brings together the necessary combination of experience and change. Further appointments to spokesperson roles such as mental health and rural affairs and committee cathaoirligh will be made in the coming weeks.
“Our first job is to hold government to account and the importance of that role was shown last week when we saw the actions of an arrogant government attempting to undermine how the Dáil is run on the back of a dodgy deal. The government was forced to climb down in the face of the combined opposition and that must now be reflected in the change to Standing Orders. You cannot be in government and opposition at the same time. It is as simple as that.
“We also saw Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael announce the biggest government ever along with more pay for the inflated number of Junior Ministers and Super Junior Ministers. What we didn’t see was any change in direction and indeed the lies told on housing delivery throughout the election campaign were exposed on the very day the Dáil returned.
“Tá gach ball de bhinse tosaigh Shinn Féin go hiomlán tiomanta an rialtas seo a thabhairt chun cuntais, polaitíocht phoblachtánach a chur chun cinn, agus rogha eile a chruthú ó rialtais atá i gcónaí faoi smacht Fhianna Fáil agus Fhine Gael.
“So we will go toe to toe with this government from day one. We will stand up for working people and fight their corner. We will hold this government to account at every turn, call out every bad policy, every dodgy decision, every failure.
“We will also work hard to set out and build the political alternative to perpetual Fianna Fail/Fine Gael led governments. To articulate how we will achieve a fair, equal, and united Ireland, a better future for workers, families, and communities. To work with the combined opposition in taking on the government. To persuade and convince more and more people that a better way is possible.”
The new Sinn Féin frontbench team is:
President: Mary Lou McDonald
Finance: Pearse Doherty
Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation: Mairéad Farrell
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence: Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Climate, Environment, Energy and Transport: Pa Daly
Education and Youth: Darren O’Rourke
Children, Disability and Equality: Claire Kerrane
Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Rose Conway-Walsh
Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Louise O’Reilly
Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport: Joanna Byrne
Health: David Cullinane
Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Eoin Ó Broin
Justice, Homes Affairs and Migration: Matt Carthy
Agriculture, Food, Fisheries, and the Marine: Martin Kenny
Further and Higher Education,Research, Innovation and Science: Donna McGettigan
Gaeilge and Gaeltacht: Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Chief Whip: Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
