Rabbitte and Quinn on front bench

LABOUR leader Eamon Gilmore handed his immediate predecessors two of the biggest portfolios when unveiling his new front bench yesterday.

Former party leaders Pat Rabbitte and Ruairi Quinn have been given the justice and education portfolios respectively. Mr Gilmore said he was pleased to have “the skill and experience” of Mr Rabbitte and Mr Quinn on board.

The leader’s new frontbench contained 19 positions, mirroring exactly the number of TDs at his disposal, meaning he did not have to omit anyone.

There were a couple of apparent demotions, however. Roisin Shortall was moved from the transport portfolio to social and family affairs, while Mary Upton went from agriculture to arts, sport and tourism.

Former deputy leader Liz McManus assumes the communications brief, having signalled she wished to move from health, according to Labour insiders.

One of the candidates to replace Ms McManus as deputy leader, Jan O’Sullivan, takes over the health portfolio. The other deputy leader candidate, Joan Burton, remains finance spokesperson.

Similarly, Michael D Higgins remains in the foreign affairs portfolio.

Traditionally, opposition portfolios “mirror” those held by government ministers. This is not the case with some of the new Labour portfolios. Mr Gilmore said: “I have not felt the need to “shadow” existing departments — they are often created simply as an administrative convenience for government.”