Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has made dramatic changes to his front bench, dropping half of the outgoing team and promoting eight TDs to the shadow cabinet for the new Dáil session, which begins next Wednesday.
Two newly-elected TDs, Dr James Reilly and Dr Leo Varadkar, have been promoted straight on to the front bench, while four TDs who recovered their seats in the general election have also been brought in.
Mr Kenny told a press conference that he had kept his team small to put the Government under pressure and said he was looking forward to an active, competitive performance from them over the next 12 months.
"I have picked a team with a range of talents and experience that will directly mark Government Ministers as well as developing and advancing new Fine Gael policy," he said.
He added that he had created two new frontbench positions of immigration and integration and children because these were issues of importance.
Mr Kenny added that his target was to make Fine Gael the largest party in the next Dáil. "We gained 20 seats in the recent election and the task now is to win more seats than Fianna Fáil in the next election," he said. Mr Kenny added that while he looked forward to co-operating with the Labour Party in the current Dáil, it was now obvious that all the parties would be fighting the next election on the basis of their own policies, with negotiations on the formation of the next overnment taking place after that election.
The appointment of Dr Reilly and Dr Varadkar to the senior positions of health and enterprise, trade and employment respectively caused most surprise within Fine Gael.
Dr Reilly (52), a GP and a former president of the Irish Medical Organisation, was not a member of the party two years ago. The Dublin North TD is to assume responsibility for an area that is regarded by the public as the most important issue.
Dr Varadkar (28) has been a rising star in Fine Gael since his performance in the 2004 local elections, when he achieved the highest vote in the country. He came through the ranks of Young Fine Gael and recovered the party seat in Dublin West at the expense of Socialist Party leader, Joe Higgins.
Four TDs who recovered their seats in the election, Brian Hayes, Alan Shatter, Charlie Flanagan and Michael Creed, will bring a wealth of experience to the front bench. Simon Coveney returns to the front bench after his stint in the European Parliament, while Mayo TD Michael Ring has been rewarded in light of Fine Gael's achievement of winning three seats in Mayo.
The party's deputy leader, Richard Bruton, continues at finance and is the only member of the outgoing front bench to retain his portfolio. Wicklow TD Billy Timmins has been promoted to the foreign affairs portfolio.
The dropping of eight members of the outgoing front bench, including high-profile figures like Jim O'Keeffe and Michael Noonan, caused some surprise.
Mr Kenny said he recognised it was disappointing for people who had given great service to the party, but he said they all still had a role to play in turning it into the biggest party in the State.
