New Fine Gael front bench

The new Fine Gael front bench announced today.

The new Fine Gael front bench announced today.

Enda Kenny:          Leader

Sean Barrett:          Foreign Affairs (formerly held by Billy Timmins)

The former defence and marine minister, who came out of retirement in 2007, returns to the frontline with the foreign affairs brief. The Dún Laoghaire representative has been selected for his experience.

Richard Bruton:       Enterprise, Jobs & Economic Planning (formerly held by Leo Varadkar)

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Mr Bruton, defeated in last month's heave, is among five rebels brought back into the fold in taking over enterprise, jobs and economic planning. The role includes party policy on public service reform, a pet project of the well-regarded Dublin North Central TD.

Catherine Byrne:     Older Citizens

Simon Coveney:      Transport (formerly held by Fergus O'Dowd)

Another of the five who crossed the Rubicon before being taken back. He was shifted - at best sideways - from communications, energy and natural resources to transport. He is also one of the few relatively young faces on the front bench.

Deirdre Clune:         Innovation & Research

Jimmy Deenihan:    Tourism, Culture & Sport (formerly held by Olivia Mitchell)

Andrew Doyle:        Agriculture, Fisheries & Food (formerly held by Michael Creed)

Frank Feighan:       Community, Equality & Gaeltacht Affairs (formerly held by Michael Ring)

Charlie Flanagan :  Children (formerly held by Alan Shatter)

One of the rebels, but he was slow to declare his hand. This is reflected in the former justice spokesman's demotion of sorts to Children - a smaller brief that garnered massive publicity in the last two years through clerical abuse scandals and more recently deaths of teenagers in care.

Phil Hogan:            Environment, Heritage & Local Government

Paul Kehoe:           Chief Whip

Michael Noonan:     Finance (formerly Richard Bruton)

A former leader who moved to the backbenches after a heavy defeat for the party in the 2002 general election is the big winner, becoming Mr Kenny's ally in the high-profile finance portfolio. Limerick TD and first time minister as far back as 1982, he has a keen eye for financial and economic issues and is seen as one of the few who can test the resolve of Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan and threaten a consensus that he is successfully handling the recession.

Fergus O'Dowd:      Education & Skills (formerly Brian Hayes)

John Perry:             Small Business

James Reilly:          Deputy Leader & Health & Children

The north Dublin GP is rewarded for his loyalty to Mr Kenny with promotion to second in command in the deputy leader's seat. He also retains his health brief in a rapid rise to the top of the party. His high profile in the Lusk and Donabate areas helped him secure the seat once held by Nora Owen.

Michael Ring:          Social Protection (formerly Olwyn Enright)

Mr Kenny's Mayo constituency colleague is another to be rewarded for his support during the heave. He takes on the big-budget social protection portfolio.

Alan Shatter:           Justice & Law Reform (formerly Charlie Flanagan)

Mr Shatter led the charge over children's rights and protection issues over the last couple of years and the Dún Laoghaire TD earns a big promotion for his loyalty and hard work.

David Stanton:         Defence (formerly Jimmy Deenihan)

Leo Varadkar:          Communications & Natural Resources (formerly Simon Coveney)

The west Dublin doctor claimed there was "no bad time to do the right thing" during the leadership heave. Despite a renegade streak he too is retained as one of the few signs of youth.

Frances Fitzgerald:  Leader in Seanad

Among those to be dropped from the front bench are: Michael Creed, Olwyn Enright, Brian Hayes, Olivia Mitchell, Denis Naughton and Billy Timmins

Additional reporting PA