Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has unveiled a new front bench with a number of major changes and appointments for some of his party's newly elected deputies.
Mr Kenny has dropped Cork South West TD Jim O'Keeffe from his front bench and the role of justice spokesman. Laois-Offaly deputy Charlie Flanagan, who had been widely tipped for a position, takes over the portfolio.
Also dropped from the Fine Gael front bench was Bernard Allen of Cork North Central who had been foreign affairs spokesman. Wicklow TD Billy Timmins has been given the foreign affairs brief.
Richard Bruton remains finance spokesman and deputy leader.
The health spokesman's role has been handed to James Reilly, a GP from Lusk in north Dublin and a first-time TD after the May general election.
Dublin West TD Leo Varadkar, also a doctor and a former councillor, has been appointed as spokesman on enterprise, trade and employment.
Among those who remain on the front bench are Brian Hayes, the Dublin South West TD, who lost his Dáil seat in the 2002 election but who won it back last May. Mr Hayes moves from the health porfolio to education.
Leaving the education brief is Laois-Offaly TD Olwyn Enright, who moves to social and family affairs.
Olivia Mitchell moves from transport to arts, sport and tourism.
Mr Kenny said he had picked a team with a range of talents and experience that will directly "mark" Government Ministers as well as developing and advancing new Fine Gael policy.
He said he had also created two new front bench positions to deal with issues "of critical importance for the future". These are an immigration and integration post and a spokesperson on children role.
"After securing twenty extra seats at the last election there was a wealth of talent, experience and ability to choose from when selecting this new front bench. I am confident that this team will challenge their direct counterparts in Government and be the standard bearers for Fine Gael as we set out on our task to become the largest Party in the next Dáil," Mr Kenny said.
The full Fine Gael front bench is as follows:
Finance & Deputy Leader:Richard Bruton
Agriculture:Michael Creed
Arts, sport and tourism:Olivia Mitchell
Children:Alan Shatter
Communications:Simon Coveney
Community, rural and gaeltacht affairs:Michael Ring
Defence:Jimmy Deenihan
Education and science:Brian Hayes
Enterprise, trade and employment:Leo Varadkar
Environment:Phil Hogan
Foreign affairs:Billy Timmins
Health:James Reilly
Immigration and integration:Denis Naughten
Justice:Charlie Flanagan
Social and family affairs:Olwyn Enright
Transport and marine:Fergus O'Dowd
Chief whip:Paul Kehoe
Leader in the Seanad:Frances Fitzgerald