Dramatic changes in the Fine Gael frontbench team and a reshuffle in Labour that allocated key positions to two former party leaders and three newly elected TDs were announced yesterday in advance of the new Dáil session.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, dropped eight of his outgoing frontbench team and those promoted in their stead include two TDs elected for the first time in May and four who recovered their seats having lost them in the 2002 election.
The two new TDs promoted to senior positions on the Fine Gael front bench, James Reilly and Leo Varadkar, are both doctors. Dr Reilly has been given health while Dr Varadkar has responsibility for enterprise, trade and employment.
Four TDs who recovered their seats in the general election, Brian Hayes, Alan Shatter, Charlie Flanagan and Michael Creed, have also made it to the front bench. Simon Coveney and Michael Ring have also been promoted.
The party's deputy leader, Richard Bruton, is the only one to retain his existing portfolio at finance. Phil Hogan moves to environment while Fergus O'Dowd takes over at transport and marine.
While most of the front bench will mark cabinet Ministers, Mr Kenny announced the creation of two new positions of immigration/ integration and children, which he said were of critical importance for the future.
"I am confident that this team will challenge their direct counterparts in Government and be the standardbearers for Fine Gael as we set out on our task to become the largest party in the next Dáil," he said.
On the Labour side, Pat Rabbitte takes over at justice while Ruairi Quinn gets the education portfolio. Labour's three new TDs, Seán Sherlock, Ciarán Lynch and Joanna Tuffy, have all been given senior positions.
Dáil Leas Cheann-Comhairle Brendan Howlin has been given responsibility for constitutional matters and law reform, although by tradition the occupant of the post, which has the salary and status of a Minister of State, does not engage in adversarial political debate.
Mr Gilmore described his team as a blend of youth and experience that would enable Labour to keep the Government to account in the Dáil and Seanad.
The two contenders for the deputy leadership of the party have both been given senior posts. Joan Burton will continue as finance spokeswoman while Jan O'Sullivan will take over at health from outgoing deputy leader Liz McManus, who moves to communications, energy and natural resources.
Both Mr Kenny and Mr Gilmore referred to the ongoing testimony at the Mahon tribunal by the Taoiseach and pledged to insist on the highest standards in public life from office holders.
Mr Kenny added that his target was to make Fine Gael the largest party in the next Dáil. "We gained 20 seats in the recent election and the task now is to win more seats than Fianna Fáil in the next election," he said.