Opposition Front Bench (Ireland)

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Republic of Ireland

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The Opposition Front Bench in the Republic of Ireland is a group of senior parliamentary opposition Teachtaí Dála 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, Sinn Féin, the Green Party and the Socialist Party.

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 Teachtaí Dála (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–

Portfolio Opposition Spokesperson
Leader of the Opposition
Spokesperson on Northern Ireland		 Enda Kenny 2002–
Deputy-Leader of the Opposition
Spokesperson on Finance		 Richard Bruton 2002–
Spokesperson on Justice & Law Reform Charles Flanagan 2007–
Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Billy Timmins (Irish politician) 2007–
Spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade & Employment Leo Varadkar 2007–
Spokesperson on Health & Children Dr. James Reilly 2007–
Spokesperson on the Environment, Heritage & Local Government Phil Hogan 2007–
Spokesperson on Arts, Sport & Tourism Olivia Mitchell 2007–
Spokesperson on Social, Family Affairs & Equality Olwyn Enright 2007–
Spokesperson on Transport & the Marine Fergus O'Dowd 2007–
Spokesperson on Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs Michael Ring 2007–
Spokesperson on Agriculture & Food Michael Creed 2007–
Spokesperson on Education & Science Brian Hayes 2007–
Spokesperson on Defence Jimmy Deenihan 2007–
Spokesperson on Immigration and Integration Dennis Naughten 2007–
Spokesperson on Children Alan Shatter 2007–
Spokesperson on Communications & Natural Resources Simon Coveney 2007–
Chief Whip Paul Kehoe 2004–
Portfolio Deputy Spokesperson
Assistant Chief Whip
Spokesperson on Health with special responsibility for Mental Health & Children		 Dan Neville 2002–
Spokesperson on Finance Paul McGrath 2002–
Spokesperson on Justice & Community Affairs with special responsibility for Drugs, Alcohol & Crime Prevention Damien English 2004–
Spokesperson on Justice Gerard Murphy 2004–
Spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade & Employment with special responsibility for EU Internal Market Development & Small & Medium Enterprises Pat Breen 2004–
Spokesperson on the Environment with special responsibility for Heritage & Rural Affairs Tom Hayes 2004–
Spokesperson on the Environment & Local Government with special responsibility for Urban Renewal & Housing Policy Pádraic McCormack 2004–
Spokesperson on Agriculture Seymour Crawford 2004–
Spokesperson on Transport with special responsibility for Road Safety Shane McEntee 2006–
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposition_Front_Bench_%28Ireland%29"
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