Front bench of Irish political party
The Social Democrats are the fifth-largest political party in Dáil Éireann . The party leader appoints a team of TDs (members of parliament) and Senators to speak for the party on different issues. The Social Democrats have been in opposition since their foundation in 2015 and accordingly, their front bench areas of responsibility broadly correspond to those of Government ministers. The current front bench was announced on 2 February 2025.[ 1] [ 2]
Social Democrats frontbench [ edit ]
Portfolio
Name
Elected office
Leader of the Social Democrats Holly Cairns
TD for Cork South-West
Deputy Leader of the Social Democrats Spokesperson for Finance Spokesperson for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation
Cian O'Callaghan
TD for Dublin Bay North
Spokesperson for Youth, Children and Equality
Aidan Farrelly
TD for Kildare North
Spokesperson for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration
Gary Gannon
TD for Dublin Central
Spokesperson for Education Spokesperson for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Jen Cummins
TD for Dublin South-Central
Spokesperson for Climate, Environment and Energy Spokesperson for Transport Spokesperson for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Jennifer Whitmore
TD for Wicklow
Spokesperson for Mental Health Spokesperson for Social Protection Spokesperson for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Spokesperson for Disability
Liam Quaide
TD for Cork East
Spokesperson for Health
Pádraig Rice
TD for Cork South-Central
Spokesperson for Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Rory Hearne
TD for Dublin North-West
Spokesperson for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Spokesperson for Defence Spokesperson for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport
Sinéad Gibney
TD for Dublin Rathdown
Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Trade
Patricia Stephenson
Senator for the Labour Panel
Leadership
Elected representatives
