Rabbitte selects the old guard for top jobs

LABOUR leader Pat Rabbitte gave top jobs to the party’s old guard on his front bench yesterday in a bid to heal internal dissent over the prominence of former Democratic Left colleagues within the party.

Mr Rabbitte gave two key posts to vanquished leadership rivals, with Eamon Gilmore taking over as

environment spokesman, and Roisin Shorthall, who refused a front-bench job last summer, becoming transport spokeswoman.

However, his main challenger Brendan Howlin, is demoted, moving to enterprise from his previous job as finance spokesman.

Mr Rabbitte has appointed Fergus Finlay as his key advisor. Mr Finlay, who spent almost 15 years working closely with Labour’s most successful leader Dick Spring, is to abandon the lucrative public relations work he has been engaged in since 1997 to take on the job.

The only surprise is the finance job going to Dublin West TD Joan Burton, who unsuccessfully stood as deputy leader, and whose first major challenge will be to mount a telling attack on the Budget in four weeks’ time. The new deputy leader and former DL TD Liz McManus stays on as health spokeswoman.

Limerick East TD Jan O’Sullivan takes over as education spokeswoman, Kerry South TD Breda Moynihan Cronin becomes spokeswoman on equality and law reform, while Jack Wall of Kildare South becomes the tourism and sport spokesman.

Mr Rabbitte’s biggest supporter, Willie Penrose, who narrowly lost the deputy leadership contest, has been given social and family affairs.

The party leader retains responsibility for speaking on Northern Ireland. This was the practice of his predecessor Ruairí Quinn, who now takes on responsibility for speaking on European affairs.

Dublin Central TD Joe Costello becomes justice spokesman and former DL TD Kathleen Lynch, of Cork South Central, takes on consumer affairs. Brian O’Shea of Waterford takes on gaeltacht and community affairs while Galway West TD Michael D Higgins remains foreign affairs spokesman.

Tommy Broughan of Dublin North East moves to become spokesman on communications and natural resources. Joe Sherlock of Cork East remains on as defence spokesman. Dublin South Central TD Mary Upton becomes agriculture and food safety spokeswoman while Sean Ryan of Dublin North is spokesman on older persons’ issues.

In all, 20 of the 21 Labour TDs have posts of responsibility. The 21st Labour TD, Carlow-Kilkenny

veteran Seamus Pattison, is leas Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil.