Micheál Martin overhauls Fianna Fáíl front bench

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has overhauled the party’s frontbench and promoted seven first-time TDs to his shadow cabinet.

The party leader said yesterday that the decision on who would be spokespeople for different areas had been “difficult”, as he unveiled Fianna Fáil’s shadow ministers for the new Dáil term.

A number of strong- performing TDs were left in their positions, but in the main, Mr Martin moved many deputies sideways into new roles while also bringing new ones up the ranks. There were also a number of notable names absent from the list of the new front bench.