Fine Gael Front Bench Explained

Fine Gael is the third largest political party in the Oireachtas. The Fine Gael leader appoints a team of TDs and Senators to speak for the party on different issues. When Fine Gael was in opposition, the front bench areas of responsibility broadly corresponded to those of Government ministers. Fine Gael has been in Government since March 2011 and accordingly their front bench consists of the ministerial officeholders. In 2020 a number of non-ministerial office holders were appointed as spokespeople for policy areas where Fine Gael does not have a minister.

Fine Gael ministers

On 9 April 2024, six Fine Gael TDs were appointed to the 34th government of Ireland and the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Fine Gael TD Hildegarde Naughton as a minister of state in attendance at cabinet. On 10 April 2024, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed 7 further Fine Gael ministers of state.[1]

NameElected officePortfolioTerm
TD for Wicklow2024–
TD for Meath East
TD for Cavan–Monaghan
TD for Dublin CentralMinister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform2022–
TD for Longford–WestmeathMinister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment2024–
TD for Limerick CountyMinister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science2024–
TD for Galway WestMinister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip; and the Department of Education with special responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion2022–
2024–
TD for Dún LaoghaireMinister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for EU Affairs; and the Department of Defence2024–
Kieran O'DonnellTD for Limerick CityMinister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works2024–
TD for Cork North-CentralMinister of State at the Department of Health with special responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs 2024–
TD for Kildare SouthMinister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Research and Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development2020–
Alan DillonTD for MayoMinister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with special responsibility for Local Government and Planning2024–
Neale RichmondTD for Dublin RathdownMinister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance2024–
Emer HigginsTD for Dublin Mid-West2024–

Fine Gael party spokespeople

Seanad spokespeople[2]

NameElected officePortfolioTerm
Seán KyneSenator nominated by the TaoiseachDeputy Leader of the Seanad
Spokesperson on Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and the Gaeltacht
2024–
2020–
Joe O'ReillySenator for the Labour PanelDeputy Government Whip
Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs & Defence
2023–
2020–
Garret AhearnSenator for the Administrative PanelSpokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment2020–
Paddy BurkeSenator for the Agricultural PanelSpokesperson on Social Protection, Rural & Community Development & The Islands2023–
Maria ByrneSenator for the Agricultural PanelSpokesperson on Finance2023–
Micheál CarrigySenator for the Industrial and Commercial PanelSpokesperson on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport, and Media2020–
Martin ConwaySenator for the Administrative PanelSpokesperson on Health2020–
John CumminsSenator for the Labour PanelSpokesperson on Housing, Local Government, and Heritage2020–
Emer CurrieSenator nominated by the TaoiseachSpokesperson on Special Education and Inclusion & Northern Ireland2023–
Aisling DolanSenator nominated by the TaoiseachSpokesperson on Education and Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science2020–
Mary Seery KearneySenator nominated by the TaoiseachSpokesperson on Children, Disability, Equality, Integration & Youth2020–
Tim LombardSenator for the Agricultural PanelSpokesperson on Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Marine2020–
John McGahonSenator for the Cultural and Educational PanelSpokesperson on Environment, Climate and Communications2020–
Barry WardSenator for the Industrial and Commercial PanelSpokesperson on Justice2020–

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Appointment of Ministers and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (33rd Dáil) . Houses of the Oireachtas . 16 April 2024 . 17 April 2024 . 16 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240416193333/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2024-04-16/2/ . live .
  2. Web site: An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announces Seanad Spokespersons .