Westmeath Senator Donie Cassidy has been named leader of the Seanad by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, who has announced the names of Fianna Fail spokespersons in the upper House. The other appointments are: deputy spokesperson, Mr Willie Farrell; Agriculture spokesperson, Mr Rory Kiely, deputy spokespersons, Mr Francis O'Brien and Mr Peter Cullanan; Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr Denis O'Donovan; spokesperson on disabilities, Mr Tony Kett.
Finance, Mr Michael Finneran, deputy, Mr Eddie Bohan; Foreign Affairs, Mr Mick Lanigan, spokesperson on European Affairs, Mr Don Lydon, spokesperson on Northern Ireland, Mr Edward Haughey; Public Enterprise, Mr Liam Fitzgerald, deputy, Mr Des Hanafin; Education and Science, Ms Ann Ormonde.
Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Mr Pat Moylan, spokesperson on tourism, Mr Paddy McGowan; Health and Children, Mr Dermot Fitzpatrick; Defence, Mr Camillus Glynn; Social, Community and Family Affairs, Ms Ann Leonard; Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Enda Bonner; deputy, Mr Tom Fitzgerald.
Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Mr Paschal Mooney, deputy, Mr Labhras O Murchu; Environment and Local Government, Mr Jim Walsh, deputy, Mr Dan Kiely; spokesperson on Rural Renewal and Western Development, Mr Frank Chambers; Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Margaret Cox.