Costello gets role of transport spokesman

DUBLIN CENTRAL TD Joe Costello has been appointed the Labour Party’s new spokesman on transport.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore chose Mr Costello to replace Tommy Broughan of Dublin North-East, who lost the party whip after absenting himself from a vote on the legislation to ban stag hunting.

Wexford TD Brendan Howlin has taken over Mr Costello’s former brief as spokesman on European affairs, in addition to his responsibilities in the areas of law reform and constitutional matters. Mr Howlin is also Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Mr Gilmore also appointed former party leader Pat Rabbitte of Dublin South-West to replace Mr Broughan on the Public Accounts Committee. Mr Costello will take Mr Broughan’s place on the Oireachtas transport committee.

A long-time opponent of blood-sports, Mr Broughan refused to support the party line of voting against the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill last month.

He will to move out of his office on the Labour Party floor in Leinster House.

Mr Broughan said he was looking at alternative accommodation in Agriculture House on Kildare Street. “I’ll be over in the gulag, in Siberia. I’m in internal exile,” Mr Broughan said.

He cannot attend meetings of the parliamentary party. He no longer has the service of the party’s press office or research unit, although he will retain his own parliamentary assistant and secretarial assistant, a Labour spokesman confirmed.

Meanwhile Mattie McGrath, who lost the Fianna Fáil whip after voting against the Government on the legislation to ban stag hunting, the Wildlife Amendment Bill, also loses his access to parliamentary party meetings and Fianna Fáil “think-ins”, and forfeits press office and research services.