Opposition Front Bench (Ireland) Information & Opposition Front Bench (Ireland) Links at HealthHaven.com
advertise
add site
services
publishers
database
health videos
Bookmark and Share

search wiki for    ?
web dir firms image gallery news pdf wiki shop video 
about
toolbar
stats
live show
health store
more stuff
JOIN/LOGIN
Featured Results:
Weight Bench es|Olympic Bench es|Folding Weight Bench |Standard Weight Bench
Weight Benches|Olympic Benches|Folding Weight Bench|Standard Weight Bench
fitnessscape.com
 Bath Bench | Nova Brand | Bath Bench Styles | More Bath Bench models |...
Bath Bench | Nova Brand | Bath Bench Styles | More Bath Bench models |...
phc-online.com
 Powertec Bench Pressing Bench es - Compare Powertec Bench Pressing...
Powertec Bench Pressing Benches - Compare Powertec Bench Pressing...
exercise-n-fitness.com
 
Republic of Ireland

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
the Republic of Ireland



Other countries · Atlas
Politics portal

The Opposition Front Bench in the Republic of Ireland is a group of senior parliamentary opposition Teachtaí Dála (TDs) who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition form an alternative cabinet to the government's. These members are assigned a particular portfolio and mark each individual member of the government. Members of the Opposition are often but not always appointed to a Cabinet post if and when their party gets into government.

Fine Gael is the largest opposition party in the Dáil and therefore that party's leader takes the title Leader of the Opposition, a largely nominal role. The other parties that occupy the opposition benches include the Labour Party and Sinn Féin.

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 which is not in government, and sometimes the Opposition may even be the largest party in the Dáil. The latter situation almost always occurs when Fianna Fáil are in opposition. This is due to the existence of the multi-party system where Fine Gael usually forms a coalition with the Labour Party.

Official Opposition Years
Labour Party 1922–1927
Fianna Fáil 1927–1932
Cumann na nGaedhael 1932–1933
Fine Gael 1933–1948
Fianna Fáil 1948–1951
Fine Gael 1951–1954
Fianna Fáil 1954–1957
Fine Gael 1957–1973
Fianna Fáil 1973–1977
Fine Gael 1977–1981
Fianna Fáil 1981–1982
Fine Gael 1982
Fianna Fáil 1982–1987
Fine Gael 1987–1994
Fianna Fáil 1994–1997
Fine Gael 1997–

Contents

[edit] Opposition Front Bench

[edit] Front Bench Spokespersons

Portfolio Opposition Spokesperson
Leader of the Opposition,
Northern Ireland
Enda Kenny 2002–
Deputy Leader of the Opposition,
Finance
Richard Bruton 2002–
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Michael Creed 2007–
Arts, Sport and Tourism Olivia Mitchell 2007–
Children Alan Shatter 2007–
Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Simon Coveney 2007–
Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Michael Ring 2007–
Defence Jimmy Deenihan 2007–
Education and Science Brian Hayes 2007–
Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar 2007–
Environment, Heritage and Local Government Phil Hogan 2007–
Foreign Affairs Billy Timmins 2007–
Health James Reilly 2007–
Immigration and Integration Denis Naughten 2007–
Justice, Equality and Law Reform Charles Flanagan 2007–
Social and Family Affairs Olwyn Enright 2007–
Transport and Marine Fergus O'Dowd 2007–
Chief Whip Paul Kehoe 2004–
Seanad leader Frances Fitzgerald 2007–

[edit] Deputy Spokespersons

Portfolio Deputy Spokesperson
Assistant Chief Whip (Dáil Reform) with special responsibility for Disability Issues David Stanton
Agriculture with special responsibility for Fisheries Tom Sheahan
Agriculture with special responsibility for Food and Horticulture Andrew Doyle
Agriculture with special responsibility for Forestry P. J. Sheehan
Arts, Sport and Tourism with special responsibility for Sport John O'Mahony
Communications, Energy and Natural Resources with special responsibility for Telecommunications Noel Coonan
Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs with special responsibility for Gaeltacht Affairs Dinny McGinley
Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs with special responsibility for National Drugs Strategy Catherine Byrne
Education with special responsibility for Lifelong Learning Ulick Burke
Enterprise with special responsibility for Innovation Deirdre Clune
Enterprise with special responsibility for Labour Affairs and Small Business Damien English
Environment with special responsibility for Heritage James Bannon
Environment with special responsibility for Housing Terence Flanagan
Finance with special responsibility for FOI, Procurement Reform and the Office of Public Works Kieran O'Donnell
Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton
Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for Human Rights Pat Breen
Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for Overseas Development Aid John Deasy
Foreign Affairs and Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility for North-South Co-operation Joe McHugh
Health with special responsibility for Mental Health Dan Neville
Health with special responsibility for Older People Paul Connaughton
Justice with special responsibility for Equality Michael W. D'Arcy
Justice with special responsibility for Juvenile Justice Joe Carey
Transport with special responsibility for Road Safety Shane McEntee
Transport and Education with special responsibility for Rural and School Transport Frank Feighan

[edit] External links




Product Results (view all...)

search wiki for    ?
web dir firms image gallery news pdf wiki shop video 



↑ top of page ↑about thumbshots