Fianna Fáil Front Bench

Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...

is currently the third largest political party

Political party

A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...

in the Oireachtas

Oireachtas

The Oireachtas , sometimes referred to as Oireachtas Éireann, is the "national parliament" or legislature of Ireland. The Oireachtas consists of:*The President of Ireland*The two Houses of the Oireachtas :**Dáil Éireann...

. On 12 April 2011 party leader Micheál Martin

Micheál Martin

Micheál Martin is an Irish politician who has been leader of Fianna Fáil since January 2011. He is a Teachta Dála for the Cork South Central constituency...

appointed a front bench consisting of all 20 of the party's Teachtaí Dála

Teachta Dála

A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...

(TDs) and one councillor to be spokespersons on areas corresponding to the various government departments. This was the second front bench appointed by Martin in 10 weeks: on 31 January 2011 he had appointed a team of TDs, senators, councillors and Fianna Fáil election candidates to speak for the party on different issues in advance of the 2011 general election. The reshuffle became necessary when six sitting front bench TDs, including the deputy leader Mary Hanifin, were not reelected . It also reflected the restructuring of government departments by the incoming Fine Gael

Fine Gael

Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...

- Labour Party

Labour Party (Ireland)

The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...

coalition.

Overview

Fianna Fáil

is the largest opposition party in the Dáil and therefore that party's leader takes the title Leader of the Opposition

Leader of the Opposition (Ireland)

The Leader of the Opposition in the Republic of Ireland is the politician who, de facto, leads the Parliamentary Opposition in the lower house of the Irish Parliament, Dáil Éireann. The current incumbent is Micheál Martin TD of the Fianna Fáil party....

, a largely nominal role. The other parties that occupy the opposition benches include Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...

and the United Left Alliance

United Left Alliance

The United Left Alliance is an electoral alliance of left-wing political parties and independent politicians in the Republic of Ireland, formed to contest the 2011 general election...

.

The "Official Opposition" is viewed as the party tasked with keeping the government in check. It is also generally viewed as the alternative government. The Official Opposition maintains a Front bench of TDs that often have the same portfolios as actual ministers. They are known as opposition "spokespersons".

The title of "the Opposition" is held by the largest party in Dáil Éireann

Dáil Éireann

Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...

which is not in government, and sometimes the Opposition may even be the largest party in the Dáil. The latter situation almost always occurred when Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

were in opposition. This is due to the existence of the multi-party system where Fine Gael

Fine Gael

usually forms a coalition with the Labour Party

Labour Party (Ireland)

.
{| class="wikitable"
!colspan=2|Official Opposition
!Years
|-
! style="background-color: " |
|Labour Party

Labour Party (Ireland)

||1922–1927
|-
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

||1927–1932
|-
! style="background-color: " |
|Cumann na nGaedheal||1932–1933
|-
! style="background-color: " |
|Fine Gael

Fine Gael

||1933–1948
|-
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

||1948–1951
|-
! style="background-color: " |
|Fine Gael

Fine Gael

||1951–1954
|-
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

||1954–1957
|-
! style="background-color: " |
|Fine Gael

Fine Gael

||1957–1973
|-
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

||1973–1977
|-
! style="background-color: " |
|Fine Gael

Fine Gael

||1977–1981
|-
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

||1981–1982
|-
! style="background-color: " |
|Fine Gael

Fine Gael

||1982
|-
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

||1982–1987
|-
! style="background-color: " |
|Fine Gael

Fine Gael

||1987–1994
|-
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

||1994–1997
|-
! style="background-color: " |
|Fine Gael

Fine Gael

||1997–2011
|-
! style="background-color: " |
|Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil

||2011–
|}

Since 4 August 2011:

Portfolio	Spokesperson
Leader of the Opposition Leader of the Opposition (Ireland) The Leader of the Opposition in the Republic of Ireland is the politician who, de facto, leads the Parliamentary Opposition in the lower house of the Irish Parliament, Dáil Éireann. The current incumbent is Micheál Martin TD of the Fianna Fáil party.... , Spokeperson on Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...	Micheál Martin Micheál Martin Micheál Martin is an Irish politician who has been leader of Fianna Fáil since January 2011. He is a Teachta Dála for the Cork South Central constituency...
Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Communications, Energy and Natural Resources	Éamon Ó Cuív Éamon Ó Cuív Éamon Ó Cuív is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Galway West constituency since 1992 and was previously a member of Seanad Éireann.-Early life:...
Finance Minister for Finance (Ireland) The Minister for Finance is the title held by the Irish government minister responsible for all financial and monetary matters. The office-holder controls the Department of Finance and is considered one of the most important members of the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Finance is...	Michael McGrath
Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ireland) The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is the senior minister at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the Government of Ireland. Its headquarters are at Iveagh House, on St Stephen's Green in Dublin; "Iveagh House" is often used as a metonym for the department as a whole.The current... and Chief Whip Chief Whip The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...	Seán Ó Fearghaíl Seán Ó Fearghail Seán Ó Fearghaíl is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Kildare South constituency since 2002....
Public Expenditure and Reform Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is the senior minister at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the Government of Ireland....	Seán Fleming
Education and Skills	Brendan Smith Brendan Smith (politician) Brendan Smith is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Cavan–Monaghan constituency since 1992. He previously served as the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Minister for Justice and Law Reform .Born in Cavan in 1956, Smith was educated at Bawnboy...
Social Protection	Barry Cowen Barry Cowen Barry Cowen is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was elected as a Teachta Dála for the Laois–Offaly constituency at the 2011 general election....
Environment, Community and Local Government	Niall Collins Niall Collins Niall Collins is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He is currently a Teachta Dála for the Limerick constituency. He previously served as member of Limerick County Council for the Bruff Local Electoral Area. He was first elected to the council at the 2004 local elections...
Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation	Willie O'Dea Willie O'Dea Willie O'Dea is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and a Teachta Dála for the Limerick City constituency. He served as the Minister for Defence from September 2004 until 18 February 2010, when he resigned from his post due to controversy over a defamation case.-Early and private life:O'Dea was born...
Children	Charlie McConalogue Charlie McConalogue Charlie McConalogue is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has been a Teachta Dála for the Donegal North East constituency since the 2011 general election.-Background:...
Justice, Equality and Defence Minister for Defence (Ireland) The Minister for Defence is the senior minister at the Department of Defence in the Government of Ireland. Under new arrangements this department is being merged with the Department of Justice over which Mr. Shatter will also preside....	Dara Calleary Dara Calleary Dara Calleary is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Mayo constituency since 2007. He served as Minister of State for Labour Affairs and Public Service Transformation from 2009 to 2011....
Health	Billy Kelleher Billy Kelleher Billy Kelleher is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Cork North Central constituency since 1997....
Transport, Tourism and Sport	Timmy Dooley Timmy Dooley Timmy Dooley is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Clare constituency since 2007, and was a member of the 22nd Seanad Éireann on the Administrative Panel from 2002–07....
Agriculture and Food	Michael Moynihan Michael Moynihan (Cork politician) Michael Moynihan is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Cork North West constituency since 1997.Moynihan was born in Kiskeam, County Cork in 1968...
Arts and Heritage	Robert Troy Robert Troy Robert Troy is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was elected as a Teachta Dála for the Longford–Westmeath constituency at the 2011 general election. He was a member of Westmeath County Council for the Mullingar West electoral area from 2004–11....
Marine and Fisheries	John Browne John Browne (Fianna Fáil) John Browne is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Wexford constituency since 1982. He is a former Minister of State...
Horticulture and Rural Affairs	Séamus Kirk Séamus Kirk Séamus Kirk is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He is a former Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, serving from October 2009 to March 2011. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Louth constituency since 1982.-Background:...
Housing, Planning Ministers of State of the 31st Dáil This is a list of Ministers of State of the 31st Dáil. On 9 March 2011, the 29th Government of Ireland was nominated by Dáil Éireann on the advice of the Taoiseach, and then appointed by the President... and Gaeltacht Affairs	Michael Kitt
Small Business Regulatory Framework	John McGuinness John J. McGuinness John J. McGuinness is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency since 1997...
Legal adviser	Cllr Jim O'Callaghan

External links

Fianna Fáil spokespersons

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Overview

Fianna Fáil Front Bench

See also

External links