Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has appointed Michael Noonan and Richard Bruton to a new front bench that he says can lead the party to “win and win big” in the next general election.
Mr Kenny has selected health spokesman Dr James Reilly to replace Mr Bruton, who unsuccessfully bid for the party leadership earlier this month, as deputy leader.
Mr Noonan, a former leader of the party, replaces Mr Bruton as finance spokesman.
Despite his challenge, Mr Bruton has retained a place on the front bench as spokesman for enterprise, jobs and economic planning (public service reform). Mr Kenny said he would focus a full ministry on public service reform if Fine Gael got into government.
Leo Varadkar, Simon Coveney and Fergus O’Dowd, who withdrew their confidence in Mr Kenny during the heave, remain on the front bench - but in changed roles. A number of other supporters of the leadership challenge - such as Brian Hayes, Michael Creed, Olivia Mitchell, Denis Naughten, Billy Timmins and Olwyn Enright - were not reappointed.
Deirdre Clune, Sean Barrett, John Perry, Frank Feighan, Catherine Byrne and Andrew Doyle were promoted to the 21-person front bench.
Speaking at a press conference in the Merrion Hotel this afternoon, Mr Kenny said he had selected a credible and united team that was capable of addressing the State’s economic and employment problems.
“This front bench is being appointed at a time of unprecedented unemployment and unprecedented economic difficulty. We have €100 billion of national debt, a €20 billion budget deficit and 455,000 on the Live Register,” he said.
“I look forward to leading this team as we enter the last lap of the period before the forthcoming general election. Before our eyes the stability of this Government is unravelling. The anxiety, concerns and mistrust that is there are indications that its days are numbered.”
Mr Kenny said he had not asked front bench members to make any commitments to him but had simply asked them to do their utmost to get the party into government.
Dr Reilly, who will deal with co-ordination and implementation of party policy, said he was confident in the skills, energy and steel in the front bench and that Mr Kenny would be the next taoiseach.
Mr Bruton, who previously suggested he could not serve on Mr Kenny’s front bench, said he was now “fully confident” of the ability of the party leader and that he was “excited” about his new role in the party. “I believe this is a very challenging role I have been asked to take on, and it is a very exciting prospect.”
He said he had taken time to reflect following his bid and that he had spoken to party colleagues and decided that he still had a contribution to make.
Mr Noonan said he would be building on “excellent work” carried out by Mr Bruton during his tenure as finance spokesman.
“I think what the people need now more than anything else is hope. They’re losing their jobs . . . their children are emigrating, their houses are worth less than the mortgage on them and there’s this feeling around of we mightn’t get out of this,” he said.
“I think I’m clear headed enough to outline a strategy which will put confidence back into the economy and lift the morale of the people and give hope."
Paul Kehoe returns as chief whip. Mr Kehoe, who firmly backed Mr Kenny during the leadership challenge, said he had been offered a new brief but asked to stay on as chief whip. Frances Fitzgerald returns as Seanad leader.
Mr Kenny said he hoped those who had been removed from the front bench would be waiting in the wings of Government rather than the long grass. He said he had selected the front bench in an inclusive manner, taking gender and geography into account, and added every Fine Gael member would have a chance to make their case in the future.
“In the Fine Gael party for the future there is no long grass. It was all cut a couple of weeks ago.”
