FORMER MINISTER for defence Willie O’Dea has dismissed criticism of his return to the Fianna Fáil front bench on the basis that he paid a heavy price “politically and financially” for submitting an affidavit in April 2009 denying he made claims about a Limerick Sinn Féin councillor.
Mr O’Dea was one of eight new senior spokespersons appointed by newly elected leader Micheál Martin to his 15-strong front bench team yesterday. A further six people have been appointed in new policy areas, including reform of the public service, political system, and financial sector.
Mr O’Dea said that there had been investigations by the Garda and the DPP into the circumstances behind his swearing of an affidavit denying he made defamatory remarks about Maurice Quinlivan. Mr O’Dea subsequently apologised to Mr Quinlivan and paid him substantial damages after a digital recording came to light of Mr O’Dea making the allegation. “The only thing was that I was wrong in saying I had not said that,” he said.
Mr O’Dea was one of the most prominent of Mr Martin’s supporters during the party’s leadership row. Mr Martin said yesterday that Mr O’Dea was one of the most talented politicians in Leinster House. “He also represents the working class and the less well off in society. Above all he has enjoyed a huge mandate from people in Limerick,” he said.
Mr Martin announced his 21-strong front bench at Leinster House yesterday afternoon. All seven senior Ministers and Government Chief Whip John Curran have been retained, with Mary Hanafin named as deputy leader.
She was the only Minister who will not speak for the party on her ministerial portfolio during the campaign. She was given responsibility for environment and local government with Senator Marc MacSharry taking on responsibility for tourism and the arts.
The most unusual feature of the front bench is that Mr Martin has gone outside the parliamentary party in a number of selections.
Mr Mac Sharry is one of four new spokespersons who are not members of the Dáil. Indeed, Mr Martin went outside the Oireachtas to fill the other three positions, appointing two councillors and a party member unelected to public office.
Jim O’Callaghan, a barrister and Dublin city councillor, is named as spokesman on constitutional affairs and legal adviser. Mr O’Callaghan, a brother of RTÉ presenter Miriam O’Callaghan, was re-elected in the Pembroke Ward in Dublin in 2009 but is not standing in the election.
Another Dublin councillor, Mary Fitzpatrick, is spokeswoman on housing and urban development. She is a candidate for Dublin Central in the election.
Averil Power has been named as spokeswoman on political reform. Ms Power, until recently special adviser to Ms Hanafin, was an unsuccessful candidate in the local elections in 2009 and is Fianna Fáil’s candidate in Dublin North East. She is married to Fionnán Sheahan, political editor of the Irish Independent.
Mr Martin denied his choice to go outside the parliamentary party was an exercise in raising the profile of candidates. “This is a new way of doing politics . . . We do need to open up opportunity [in Fianna Fáil].
Five Ministers of State have been promoted. They are Mr Curran (justice), Barry Andrews (health), Dara Calleary (enterprise), Billy Kelleher (transport), and Peter Power (foreign affairs and trade).
Several prominent young backbench TDs have also been elevated. They include Niall Collins from Limerick West (who take over the defence portfolio) and Mr Martin’s constituency colleague in Cork South Central Michael McGrath, who will speak on the financial sector reform. Seán Fleming has been asked to fill a similar role on public sector reform. Darragh O’Brien is named as spokesman on sport and John McGuinness is given responsibility for small business.
