Gilmore announces his front bench

[Gerrymanderer]

• Today the new Leader of the Labour Party Eamon Gilmore announced his new front bench containing a blend of youth and experience that will enable Labour to keep the Government to account in the Dail and the Seanad.
  
  Speaking about his choices, Eamon explained: "I have not felt the need to 'shadow' exactly existing departments (they are often created simply as an administrative convenience for government) and I have in a number of cases given Deputies and Senators responsibility for areas that I consider to be of particular importance, including human rights, constitutional and law reform, disability issues and the Irish language.
  
  Each of the three newly elected TDs has been given important portfolios and I have no doubt that they will rise to the challenge. Each of the new Senators has also been given responsibility for a key area."

Link to the Labour website

Full list below the fold.

[Sonny O'Neill]

Good team.

[Supersid]

A spokeman for "Commuter Issues"????? Talk about finding a job for everyone!

[locke]

Hannigan to speak on commuter issues is definitely a good move. It's likely to be a major issue for people in his constituency in the next election. Almost all other constituencies where commuting is an issue have a Labour TD.

[KingKane]

A spokeman for "Commuter Issues"????? Talk about finding a job for everyone!

It's as logical as Rural and Gealtacht affairs.

[mollox]

One for everyone in the audience.

[Supersid]

Can someone tell me what "commuter issues" are not covered by either environment or transport? This is a nonsense of the highest order.

[red365]

Can someone tell me what "commuter issues" are not covered by either environment or transport? This is a nonsense of the highest order.

You clearly don't live in the commuter belt. Dominic will be looking at issues like the lack of school places, management companies, unfinished estates, lack of public transport, to name but a few.

[krayZpaving]

Full list:

* Agriculture and Food - Sean Sherlock TD
* Arts, Sport and Tourism - Mary Upton TD
* Communications, Energy and Natural Resources - Liz McManus TD
* Community and Rural Affairs - Jack Wall TD
* Constitutional Matters and Law Reform - Brendan Howlin TD
* Defence and the Irish language - Brian O'Shea TD
* Disability Issues and Equality - Kathleen Lynch TD
* Education and Science - Ruairi Quinn TD
* Enterprise, Trade and Employment - Willie Penrose TD
* Environment and Heritage - Joanna Tuffy TD
* Europe and Human Rights - Joe Costello TD
* Finance - Joan Burton TD
* Foreign Affairs - Michael D Higgins TD
* Health - Jan O'Sullivan TD
* Housing and Local Government - Ciaran Lynch TD
* Justice - Pat Rabbitte TD
* Social and Family Affairs - Roisin Shortall TD
* Transport - Tommy Broughan TD
* Chief Whip - Emmet Stagg TD
* Assistant Whip - Brian O'Shea TD
* Commuter Issues - Sen. Dominic Hannigan
* Consumer Affairs - Sen. Brendan Ryan
* Tourism - Sen. Alan Kelly
* Older People - Sen. Phil Prendergast
* Marine - Sen. Michael McCarthy
* Children - Sen. Alex White

[pie xplorer]

are there any TD's that didn't get a post ?