Fine Gael Front Bench

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
See also: Government of the 33rd Dáil

Ministers of Government

On 27 June 2020, six Fine Gael TDs were appointed to the 32nd Government of Ireland.[1]

Name Elected office Portfolio Term
Leo Varadkar TD for Dublin West Leader of Fine Gael
Tánaiste
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment		 2017–
2020–
2020–
Simon Coveney TD for Cork South-Central Deputy Leader of Fine Gael
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Minister for Defence		 2017–
2017–
2020–
Paschal Donohoe TD for Dublin Central Minister for Finance 2017–
Helen McEntee TD for Meath East Minister for Justice 2020–
Simon Harris TD for Wicklow Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science 2020–
Heather Humphreys TD for Cavan–Monaghan Minister for Social Protection
Minister for Rural and Community Development		 2020–
2020–

Ministers of State

On 27 June 2020, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed Fine Gael TD, Hildegarde Naughton as a Minister of State, attending Government meetings without a vote. On 1 July, the government appointed seven further Fine Gael TDs as Ministers of State on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

Name Elected office Portfolio Term
Hildegarde Naughton TD for Galway West Minister of State at the Department of Transport,
with responsibility for International and Road Transport and Logistics

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications,
with responsibility for postal policy and Eircodes

 2020–
Patrick O'Donovan TD for Limerick County Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform,
with responsibility for Office of Public Works		 2020–
Josepha Madigan TD for Dublin Rathdown Minister of State at the Department of Education,
with responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion		 2020–
Martin Heydon TD for Kildare South Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine,
with responsibility for Research and Development, Farm Safety and New Market Development		 2020–
Colm Brophy TD for Dublin South-West Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs,
with responsibility for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora		 2020–
Peter Burke TD for Longford–Westmeath Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage,
with responsibility for Local Government and Planning		 2020–
Damien English TD for Meath West Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment,
with responsibility for Employment Affairs and Retail Businesses		 2020–
Frank Feighan TD for Sligo–Leitrim Minister of State at the Department of Health,
with responsibility for Public Health, Well Being and National Drugs Strategy		 2020–

Fine Gael Party Spokespeople

Party Spokespeople

On 22 July 2020, at a meeting of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party the Parliamentary Party chair, deputy chair, secretary and assistant secretary were elected.[2]
On 30 September 2020, Fine Gael Leader, Leo Varadkar, appointed a number TDs as party spokespeople covering policy areas in which the party does not have a minister. Their role is to support the Government, develop policy, speak in the Dáil and media and engage with interest groups in these areas on behalf of the party. In most cases, they are the lead Fine Gael member and convener on the relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee.[3]

Name Elected office Portfolio Term
Richard Bruton TD for Dublin Bay North Chair of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party 2020–
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD for Dún Laoghaire Deputy Chair of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party
Spokesperson on Equality		 2020–
2020–
Alan Dillon TD for Mayo Secretary of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party
Spokesperson on Tourism and Sport		 2020–
2020–
Emer Higgins TD for Dublin Mid-West Assistant Secretary of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party
Spokesperson on Social Media and Fintech		 2020–
2020–
Colm Burke TD for Cork North-Central Spokesperson on Health 2020–
Ciaran Cannon TD for Galway East Spokesperson on Media, Arts and Culture 2020–
Alan Farrell TD for Dublin Fingal Spokesperson on Climate Action 2020–
Neale Richmond TD for Dublin Rathdown Spokesperson on European Affairs 2020–

Seanad Spokespeople

On 10 July 2020, Fine Gael Leader, Leo Varadkar announced the Seanad Spokespersons for the party. Their role is to support the Government, develop policy, speak in the Seanad on matters relating to their policy area on behalf of Fine Gael.[4] On 18 September 2020, Fine Gael Senator, Joe O'Reilly was elected Leas Cathaoirleach of the Seanad.[5]

Name Elected office Portfolio Term
Regina Doherty Senator nominated by the Taoiseach Deputy Leader of the Seanad 2020–
Joe O'Reilly Senator for the Labour Panel Leas Cathaoirleach
Spokesperson on Foreign and European Affairs, Defence and Brexit		 2020–
2020–
Sean Kyne Senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform and Gaeltacht 2020–
Emer Currie Senator nominated by the Taoiseach Spokesperson on Employment Affairs, Work/Life Balance and Northern Ireland 2020–
Aisling Dolan Senator nominated by the Taoiseach Spokesperson on Education, Science and Innovation (including Higher Education) 2020–
Garret Ahearn Senator for the Administrative Panel Spokesperson on Enterprise and Trade 2020–
Mary Seery Kearney Senator nominated by the Taoiseach Spokesperson on Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Privacy Rights 2020–
John Cummins Senator for the Labour Panel Spokesperson on Housing, Heritage and Local Government 2020–
Barry Ward Senator for the Industrial and Commercial Panel Spokesperson on Justice 2020–
Tim Lombard Senator for the Agricultural Panel Spokesperson on Agriculture, Food, Forestry and Marine 2020–
Micheál Carrigy Senator for the Industrial and Commercial Panel Spokesperson on Media, Arts, Sports and Tourism 2020–
John McGahon Senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel Spokesperson on Climate, Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 2020–
Martin Conway Senator for the Administrative Panel Spokesperson on Health 2020–

References
  1. "Government Ministers". Gov.ie. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  2. Horgan-Jones, Jack (22 July 2020). "Richard Bruton elected chairman of Fine Gael parliamentary party". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  3. Scally, Aisling (30 September 2020). "Tánaiste and Fine Gael Leader Leo Varadkar announces party spokespeople". Fine Gael. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  4. Varadkar, Leo (10 July 2020). "Tánaiste and Fine Gael President Leo Varadkar announces Seanad Spokespersons". Fine Gael. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  5. "Seanad Éireann debate - Friday, 18 Sep 2020". Oireachtas. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
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