The Labour Party seems to be the place for male secretaries to climb the career ladder. Finance spokesman, deputy Derek McDowell is on his third, the previous two having gone on to higher things. onan Ronan O'Brien has become special adviser to the party leader, Ruairi Quinn, the job Fergus Finlay did for Dick Spring, and Paul Daly has joined the Labour Party press office. Catherine Heaney from the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed has also joined the press office where Tom Butler has been promoted to press director.
Male secretaries may be unusual in Leinster House in general, but not in the Labour Party. Deputies Tommy Broughan and Pat Upton have male secretaries too.