Labour Party (Ireland) Front Bench
The Labour Party is the fourth-largest political party in the Oireachtas. The Labour Party leader appoints a team of TDs and Senators to speak for the party on different issues. When the Labour Party was in Government their front bench consisted of the ministerial officeholders. The Labour Party has been in opposition since March 2016 and accordingly, their front bench areas of responsibility broadly correspond to those of Government ministers. The new front bench was announced on 8 June 2016.[1] Due to the small number of TDs, many front bench areas were given to senators and former TD's from outside the Oireachtas.
Labour Party frontbench
| Portfolio | Spokesperson |
|---|---|
| Front Bench in Dáil Éireann[2] | |
| Party Leader
Spokesperson on Justice Spokesperson on Northern Ireland |
Brendan Howlin TD |
| Parliamentary Party Chairperson
Spokesperson on Agriculture, Food and the Marine Spokesperson on Rural Affairs Spokesperson on Social Protection |
Willie Penrose TD |
| Party Whip
Spokesperson on Defence Spokesperson on Transport, Tourism and Sport |
Brendan Ryan TD |
| Spokesperson on the Arts
Spokesperson on Education and Skills Spokesperson on Finance |
Joan Burton TD |
| Spokesperson on Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources
Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform |
Sean Sherlock TD |
| Spokesperson on Health
Spokesperson on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation |
Alan Kelly TD |
| Spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government
Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs |
Jan O'Sullivan TD |
| Front Bench in Seanad Éireann [3] | |
| Seanad Group Leader
Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Development |
Senator Ivana Bacik |
| Seanad Group Whip
Spokesperson on Dublin |
Senator Kevin Humphreys, |
| Spokesperson on Local Government Reform
Spokesperson on Regional Development |
Senator Denis Landy |
| Spokesperson on Equality
Spokesperson on Labour Affairs and Workers Rights |
Senator Gerald Nash |
| Spokesperson on Environment and Sustainable Development
Spokesperson on Gaeltacht Affairs |
Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin |
| Non Oireachtas Spokespersons [4] | |
| Spokesperson on Urban Regeneration | Joe Costello |
| Spokesperson on Affordable Housing
Spokesperson on the Retail Sector |
Ciarán Lynch |
| Spokesperson on Mental Health
Spokesperson on Disability |
Kathleen Lynch |
| Spokesperson on International Tax Justice | Michael McNamara |
| Spokesperson on Elder People | Emmet Stagg |
| Spokesperson on Lifelong Learning | Joanna Tuffy |
| Spokesperson on Constitutional Matters | Alex White |
During the Leadership Election in May 2016, The Parliamentary Labour Party did not propose a TD for the position of Deputy Leader, this makes the office de facto Abolished. The position however does still exist in the Labour Party Constitution, efficiently meaning the Parliamentary Party could at any time decide to facilitate the election of a Deputy Leader, this is unlikely however as the Parliamentary Party has expressed the position is unnecessary in the current Dáil term with only 7 TDs.
See also
References
- ↑ Brophy, Daragh. "It's no longer Alan Kelly's job to talk about Irish Water". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
- ↑ Party, The Labour. "We've announced our Spokespeople". The Labour Party. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
- ↑ Party, The Labour. "We've announced our Spokespeople". The Labour Party. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
- ↑ Party, The Labour. "We've announced our Spokespeople". The Labour Party. Retrieved 2016-06-09.