Frontbench team of Micheál Martin

General	2011; 2016; 2020;
Presidential	2004; 2011; 2018;
Local	2009; 2014; 2019;
European	2009; 2014; 2019;

These are the front benches of Micheál Martin from 2011 until the present day.

Initial front bench[edit]

This was announced on 31 January 2011. The biggest surprise was the inclusion of then unknown and unelected Averil Power.^[1]^[2] Jim O'Callaghan, at this time a local politician known only for being a brother of RTÉ personality Miriam O'Callaghan, was also included.^[3]

Micheál Martin - Leader and Spokesperson on Northern Ireland
Mary Hanafin - Deputy Leader and Spokesperson on Environment
Brian Lenihan Jnr¹ - Spokesperson on Finance
Averil Power⁴ - Spokesperson on Political Reform
Michael McGrath - Spokesperson on Financial Sector Reform
Seán Fleming - Spokesperson on Public Sector Reform
John Curran - Spokesperson on Justice and Law Reform
Niall Collins - Spokesperson on Defence
Dara Calleary - Spokesperson on Enterprise, Employment & Innovation
John McGuinness - Spokesperson on Small Business
Mary Coughlan¹ - Spokesperson on Education and Skills
Willie O'Dea - Spokesperson on Communications, Energy & Natural Resources
Brendan Smith - Spokesperson on Agriculture, Fisheries & Food
Billy Kelleher - Spokesperson on Transport
Peter Power - Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs & Trade
Marc McSharry² - Spokesperson on Tourism & Arts
Darragh O'Brien - Spokesperson on Sport
Pat Carey - Spokesperson on Community, Equality & Gaeltacht Affairs
Éamon Ó Cuív¹ - Spokesperson on Social Protection
Mary Fitzpatrick³ - Spokesperson on Housing & Urban Development
Barry Andrews - Spokesperson on Health and Children
Jim O'Callaghan³ - Spokesperson on Constitutional Reform and Legal Adviser^[3]
¹ Then minister with responsibility for this area
² Then a Senator
³ Then a local politician
⁴ Not then in public office

2011 post-election reshuffle[edit]

Following the 2011 general election, a number of members of Martin's front bench lost their seats, meaning a reshuffle was necessary. This was announced on 12 April 2011.^[4]

Micheál Martin - Leader and Spokesperson on Northern Ireland
Brian Lenihan Jnr - Deputy Leader and Spokesperson on Finance
Michael McGrath - Spokesperson on Public Expenditure & Financial Sector Reform
Seán Fleming - Spokesperson on Public Sector Reform
Dara Calleary - Spokesperson on Justice, Equality & Defence
John McGuinness - Spokesperson on Small Business & Regulatory Framework (also Fianna Fáil nominee for Chair of the Public Accounts Committee)
Brendan Smith - Spokesperson on Education and Skills
Éamon Ó Cuív - Spokesperson on Communications, Energy & Natural Resources
Michael Moynihan - Spokesperson on Agriculture and Food
John Browne - Spokesperson on Marine & Fisheries
Seamus Kirk - Spokesperson on Horticulture & Rural Affairs
Timmy Dooley - Spokesperson on Transport, Tourism and Sport
Robert Troy - Spokesperson on Arts & Heritage
Niall Collins - Spokesperson on Environment, Community & Local Government
Michael Kitt - Spokesperson on Housing, Planning & Gaeltacht Affairs
Barry Cowen - Spokesperson on Social Protection
Billy Kelleher - Spokesperson on Health
Charlie McConalogue - Spokesperson on Children
Jim O'Callaghan¹ - Legal Adviser
¹ Then a local politician

2011 minor reshuffle due to death of Brian Lenihan[edit]

Deputy Leader and Spokesperson on Finance Brian Lenihan Jnr died in office in the early hours of 10 June 2011. Éamon Ó Cuív was named Deputy Leader in his place and Michael McGrath, then Spokesperson on Public Expenditure & Financial Sector Reform, was appointed Spokesperson on Finance. Seán Fleming combined McGrath's previous role with his own, Spokesperson on Public Sector Reform.^[5]

Micheál Martin - Leader and Spokesperson on Northern Ireland
Éamon Ó Cuív - Deputy Leader and Spokesperson on Communications, Energy & Natural Resources
Michael McGrath - Spokesperson on Finance
Seán Fleming - Spokesperson on Public Expenditure & Reform
Dara Calleary - Spokesperson on Justice, Equality & Defence
John McGuinness - Spokesperson on Small Business & Regulatory Framework (also Fianna Fáil nominee for Chair of the Public Accounts Committee)
Brendan Smith - Spokesperson on Education and Skills
Michael Moynihan - Spokesperson on Agriculture and Food
John Browne - Spokesperson on Marine & Fisheries
Seamus Kirk - Spokesperson on Horticulture & Rural Affairs
Timmy Dooley - Spokesperson on Transport, Tourism and Sport
Robert Troy - Spokesperson on Arts & Heritage
Niall Collins - Spokesperson on Environment, Community & Local Government
Michael Kitt - Spokesperson on Housing, Planning & Gaeltacht Affairs
Barry Cowen - Spokesperson on Social Protection
Billy Kelleher - Spokesperson on Health
Charlie McConalogue - Spokesperson on Children
Jim O'Callaghan¹ - Legal Adviser
¹ Then a local politician

2012 reshuffle[edit]

Deputy Leader Éamon Ó Cuív soon fell out with Leader Micheál Martin and left his post. While Ó Cuív served on the backbenches the post of Deputy Leadership was vacant. On 12 June 2012, Martin announced another reshuffle but declined to give anyone the position of Deputy Leader. Ten changes were made in total.^[6]

Micheál Martin - Leader and Spokesperson on Northern Ireland
Michael McGrath - Spokesperson on Finance
Seán Fleming - Spokesperson on Public Expenditure & Reform
Niall Collins - Spokesperson on Justice & Equality
Seán Ó Fearghaíl - Chief Whip and Spokesperson on Constitutional Reform and Arts & Culture and Defence
John McGuinness - Spokesperson on Small Business & Regulatory Framework
Dara Calleary - Spokesperson on Enterprise, Jobs & Innovation
Charlie McConalogue - Spokesperson on Education & Skills
Barry Cowen - Spokesperson on Environment
Michael Moynihan - Spokesperson on Communications, Energy & Natural Resources
Éamon Ó Cuív - Spokesperson on Agriculture
John Browne - Spokesperson on Marine & Fisheries
Seamus Kirk - Spokesperson on Horticulture & Rural Affairs
Timmy Dooley - Spokesperson on Transport, Tourism and Sport
Brendan Smith - Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs & Trade
Michael Kitt - Spokesperson on Housing, Planning & Gaeltacht Affairs
Willie O'Dea - Spokesperson on Social Protection & Equality
Billy Kelleher - Spokesperson on Health
Robert Troy - Spokesperson on Children
Jim O'Callaghan¹ - Legal Adviser
¹ Then a local politician

2016 reshuffle[edit]

Following the 2016 general election and government formation, Martin announced these spokespeople on 18 May.^[7]^[8] Those no longer serving included Colm Keaveney, who lost his seat, and Seán Ó Fearghaíl, elected to the role of Ceann Comhairle. In a new departure, a number of women were included.^[9]

Micheál Martin - Leader and Spokesperson on Northern Ireland
Michael Moynihan - Fianna Fáil Whip
Michael McGrath - Spokesperson on Finance
Dara Calleary - Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform
Jim O'Callaghan - Spokesperson on Justice and Equality
Lisa Chambers - Spokesperson on Defence
Niall Collins - Spokesperson on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation
Thomas Byrne - Spokesperson on Education and Skills
Timmy Dooley - Spokesperson on Communications, Environment and Natural Resources
Charlie McConalogue - Spokesperson on Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Éamon Ó Cuív - Spokesperson on Regional Development, Rural Affairs and the Gaeltacht
Robert Troy - Spokesperson on Transport, Tourism and Sport
Darragh O'Brien - Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade
Barry Cowen - Spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government
Willie O'Dea - Spokesperson on Social Protection
Billy Kelleher - Spokesperson on Health
Anne Rabbitte - Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs
Niamh Smyth - Spokesperson on Arts and Heritage
Margaret Murphy O'Mahony - Spokesperson on Disability
James Browne - Spokesperson on Mental Health
John Lahart - Spokesperson on Dublin
Senator Catherine Ardagh - Fianna Fáil Leader in the Seanad

2018 reshuffle[edit]

Following a period of underperformance in opinion polls a reshuffle took place on 29 March 2018.

Micheál Martin - Leader and Spokesperson on Northern Ireland

References[edit]

^ The new Fianna Fáil front bench in full
^ Mary Hanafin named new FF Deputy Leader
^ ^a ^b Hanafin becomes FF deputy leader as new front bench unveiled "Cllr Jim O'Callaghan SC – brother of RTÉ broadcaster Miriam – is appointed to the new role as Spokesman on Constitutional Reform as well as being legal advisor to the front bench, an obvious precursor to the position of Attorney General."
^ "Martin announces new FF frontbench - again". Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
^ Éamon Ó Cuív appointed FF’s deputy leader as Martin shuffles frontbench
^ Fianna Fáil reshuffles frontbench Irish Times
^ Fianna Fáil front bench announced
^ "Fianna Fáil Dáil Spokespeople Announced". Archived from the original on 19 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
^ Meet the new Fianna Fáil front bench

[1] The new Fianna Fáil front bench in full

[2] Mary Hanafin named new FF Deputy Leader

[jimocallaghan-3] Hanafin becomes FF deputy leader as new front bench unveiled "Cllr Jim O'Callaghan SC – brother of RTÉ broadcaster Miriam – is appointed to the new role as Spokesman on Constitutional Reform as well as being legal advisor to the front bench, an obvious precursor to the position of Attorney General."

[4] "Martin announces new FF frontbench - again". Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.

[5] Éamon Ó Cuív appointed FF’s deputy leader as Martin shuffles frontbench

[6] Fianna Fáil reshuffles frontbench Irish Times

[7] Fianna Fáil front bench announced

[8] "Fianna Fáil Dáil Spokespeople Announced". Archived from the original on 19 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.

[9] Meet the new Fianna Fáil front bench

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]