The Labour Party leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, has engaged in a comprehensive reshuffle of his front bench and given two-thirds of its members new responsibilities.
The extent of the changes reflect the pressure the party is likely to be subjected to in the 29th Dáil, not just from the Green Party and Sinn Féin, but from Fine Gael as well, as Labour attempts to create a leadership role for itself on the opposition benches. By giving people fresh responsibilities, Mr Quinn obviously hopes to re-energise his front bench as well as to create circumstances whereby personality clashes across the floor of the Dáil will, in themselves, become a source of public interest. In that regard, journalists were already anticipating fireworks when Mr Pat Rabbitte crossed swords with the new Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Mr Michael McDowell.
The key changes made involved moving the deputy leader of the party, Mr Brendan Howlin, to finance; Mr Tommy Broughan went to enterprise, trade and employment; Ms Joan Burton to transport; Mr Eamon Gilmore to communications and natural resources; Mr Joe Costello to education and science; Mr Willie Penrose to environment and local government and Ms Kathleen Lynch to arts, sports and tourism. Ms Liz McManus remained on at health while Mr Michael D Higgins retained responsibility for international affairs. Ms Roisín Shortall, who criticised Mr Quinn's leadership in recent weeks, was the only member of the parliamentary party not included on the front bench.
In a disappointing general election, the Labour Party failed to have any new candidates returned. That failure made it imperative to provide a new-look front bench and to rotate areas of responsibility. Four TDs who lost their Dáil seats in 1997 and were subsequently re-elected they were given prominent front bench responsibilities. The party organisation is in the process of conducting a post-mortem on its performance and is revising strategy in preparation for the local elections of 2004. That work is due to be completed next September . The exercise will coincide with the formal election of a party leader. Yesterday, Mr Quinn said he had not yet made up his mind to stand again for the position. But senior party figures believed he would do so after careful reflection and that he would not be challenged.