Mayo Sinn Féin TD gets new appointment in party reshuffle

MAYO Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh has been appointed as the party's new spokesperson on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment following a party reshuffle.

Sinn Féin President, Mary Lou McDonald announced her new frontbench with eleven changes from the previous team following the formation of the new Government last week.

Erris-based TD Rose Conway-Walsh who had previously served as the Sinn Féin spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform in the last Dáil but has been appointed as the new spokesperson on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and will shadow the Fine Gael Minister Peter Burke.

Galway West TD Mairead Farrell replaces Conway-Walsh as the party spokesperson on Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation while Roscommon TD Claire Kerrane has been appointed spokesperson on Children, Disability and Equality.

Dublin-based TD Louise O'Reilly has been appointed spokesperson on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development will shadow Mayo Fianna Fáil TD, Minister Dara Calleary who was appointed to the Cabinet last week.

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Following her appointed, Deputy Conway-Walsh said she was delighted to be appointed to this role and I look forward to developing progressive policies in the key areas of business sustainability, infrastructure, All-Island economy, tourism and workers rights.

“I will work constructively while ensuring the Minister and his Government are held to account in all the key areas. I look forward to working with Businesses, representative organisations, and unions to ensure sustainable growth, prosperity, and opportunity across the Island.

“The recent Storm Éowyn has exposed the deficits in vital infrastructure which have led to electricity and water outages for unacceptable periods of time particularly along the Western Seaboard. The Government must immediately examine the loss to businesses and put in place supports to ensure these loses are addressed.

“It is government responsibility to ensure an environment whereby businesses can thrive and scale up as well as encouraging new start-up enterprises.

“I will be working on an all-island basis where it is practical to develop the all-island economy and the tourism offering of our entire island. Our natural resources must be utilised to revitalise rural economies and enhance national prosperity.

“I am a passionate supporter of workers rights and I intend to work in conjunction with Unions to ensure workers are fairly treated.

“It is my firm belief that constitutional change on our island is on the horizon and I intend to work in a spirit of openness and inclusivity to prepare for the Referendum on Irish Unity as provided for in the Good Friday Agreement,” she said.

Commenting on the appointment of the front bench, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that it is a team in which women are represented equally and which is regionally balanced 'so that the voices of people in every region are represented'.

“Our first job is to hold the government to account and the importance of that role was shown last week when we saw the actions of an arrogant government attempting to undermine how the Dáil is run on the back of a dodgy deal. The government was forced to climb down in the face of the combined opposition and that must now be reflected in the change to Standing Orders. You cannot be in government and opposition at the same time. It is as simple as that.

“We also saw Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael announce the biggest government ever along with more pay for the inflated number of Junior Ministers and Super Junior Ministers. What we didn’t see was any change in direction and indeed the lies told on housing delivery throughout the election campaign were exposed on the very day the Dáil returned.

“So we will go toe to toe with this government from day one. We will stand up for working people and fight their corner. We will hold this government to account at every turn, call out every bad policy, every dodgy decision, every failure.

“We will also work hard to set out and build the political alternative to perpetual Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael led governments. To articulate how we will achieve a fair, equal, and united Ireland, a better future for workers, families, and communities. To work with the combined opposition in taking on the government. To persuade and convince more and more people that a better way is possible,” she said.