Calleary receives Justice portfolio on FF frontbench

Ballina's Calleary to be spokesperson on Justice


Michael Duffy

MAYO TD Dara Calleary has been named today (Tuesday) as the Fianna FΡil frontbench spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Defence.
The Ballina deputy said he was ‘honoured’ to have been chosen in the shadow cabinet and he was ‘looking forward to the challenges ahead’.
Party leader, Michéal Martin said with the Fine Gael/Labour government enjoying a large majority, it was critically important that the new coalition was met ‘with a robust and constructive opposition in the DΡil’.
“This team has the balance of experience and fresh perspective required to provide that opposition. When appointing my general election campaign frontbench I emphasised the importance of extending the party’s frontbench to include expertise from different sections of the party. I intend to follow through on this commitment and look forward to making a further announcement in the coming weeks.”
Deputy Martin added that this was an important time for our country and an important moment for the Fianna FΡil party.
“In choosing the spokespeople I have, my priority has been to place individuals in roles where they will hold government to account and play a constructive part in ensuring that government take forward the policies necessary to protect the country’s recovery. Similarly, Fianna FΡil’s priority will be the renewal of our policy agenda - everyone in our DΡil team will play a leadership role in that process.”
Dara Calleary will be joined in the shadow cabinet by two other western TDs, the experienced Galway duo of Eamon Ó Cuiv and Michéal Kitt. Deputy Ó Cuiv is responsible for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, which will once again see him commenting on issues surrounding the controversial Corrib Gas project, while Deputy Kitt will take charge of another important portfolio in the eyes of many Mayo people, namely Housing, Planning and Gaeltacht Affairs.