Fine Gael Front Bench

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Fine Gael is the third largest political party in the Oireachtas. The Fine Gael leader appoints a team of TDs and Senators to speak for the party on different issues. When Fine Gael was in opposition, the front bench areas of responsibility broadly corresponded to those of Government ministers. Fine Gael has been in Government since March 2011 and accordingly their front bench consists of the ministerial officeholders. In 2025 a number of non-ministerial office holders were appointed as spokespeople for policy areas where Fine Gael does not have a minister.

Fine Gael's current leader is Simon Harris. Helen McEntee is the current deputy leader, and Michael Carrigy is chair of the parliamentary party.

Fine Gael ministers

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On 23 January 2025, seven Fine Gael TDs were appointed to the 35th government of Ireland by Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Fine Gael TD Hildegarde Naughton was also appointed a minister of state in attendance at cabinet. On 29 January 2025, the government on the nomination of the Taoiseach appointed six further Fine Gael ministers of state.[1] On 25 February 2025, Colm Brophy was also appointed minister of state.[2]

Name Elected office Portfolio Term
Simon Harris TD for Wicklow
2024-

2025–

Helen McEntee TD for Meath East
  • 2024–
  • 2025–
Paschal Donohoe TD for Dublin Central Minister for Finance 2017-2022, 2025-
Peter Burke TD for Longford–Westmeath Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment 2025–
Patrick O'Donovan TD for Limerick County Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport 2025–
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD for Dún Laoghaire Minister for Health 2025–
Martin Heydon TD for Kildare South Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 2025–
Hildegarde Naughton TD for Galway West Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality with special responsibility for Disability 2025-
Emer Higgins TD for Dublin Mid-West Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, with special responsibility for Public procurement, digitalisation and eGovernment 2025–
Neale Richmond TD for Dublin Rathdown Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with special responsibility for International Development and Diaspora 2025–
Jerry Buttimer TD for Cork South-Central Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, with special responsibility for Community development, charities, Gaeltacht and the islands.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, with special responsibility for rural transport

2025-

2025-

John Cummins TD for Waterford Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with special responsibility for local government and planning 2025-
Kieran O'Donnell TD for Limerick City Minister of State at the Department of Health, with special responsibility for Older People

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with special responsibility for housing

2025–

2025-

Alan Dillon TD for Mayo Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, with special responsibility for circular economy

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, with special responsibility for small businesses and retail

2025–

2025-

Colm Brophy TD for Dublin South-West Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, with special responsibility for migration 2025-

Fine Gael party spokespeople

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In 2025 a number of non-ministerial office holders were appointed as spokespeople for policy areas where Fine Gael does not have a minister.

Name Elected Office Portfolio Term
Maeve O'Connell TD for Dublin Rathdown Spokesperson for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science 2025-
Peter Roche TD for Galway East Spokesperson for Mental Health 2025-
James Geoghegan TD for Dublin South-West Spoksesperson for Dublin 2025-
Emer Currie TD for Dublin West Spokesperson for Childcare

Deputy Government Whip

2025-
John Clendennen TD for Offaly Assistant Whip 2025-

References

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  1. ^ Oireachtas, Houses of the (23 January 2025). "Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government – Dáil Éireann (34th Dáil) – Thursday, 23 Jan 2025 – Houses of the Oireachtas". www.oireachtas.ie. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  2. ^ "Government appoints Ministers of State". gov.ie. Retrieved 12 October 2025.