Westport based TD Michael Ring has become a beneficiary of the new front bench reshuffle by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny after being promoted from spokesperson on community, rural, and Gaeltacht affairs to social protection where he will once again face off against his old adversary Éamon Ó Cuív. Ring was opposition spokesperson when Ó Cuív was Minister for Community, Rural, and Gaeltacht Affairs. The role of Minister for Social Protection was only created by Taoiseach Brian Cowen in his last cabinet reshuffle and takes over from the old Minster for Social and Family Affairs. Ring will have responsibility for creating Fine Gael policy to deal with a whole range of social insurance and entitlement issues such as unemployment benefits, illness and maternity entitlements, and old age pensions.
Deputy Kenny unveiled his new front bench on Thursday afternoon, July 1, two weeks after the unsuccessful heave against him in his leadership role by party colleagues. The Fine Gael leader hopes the new team will guide his party towards victory in the next general election. While Kenny included a number of the rebels who prompted the Mayo TD to call a vote of confidence in his leadership a few weeks ago, he gave a number of promotions to those who stood by him.
Speaking to the Mayo Advertiser shortly after the announcement, Dep Ring said he was very happy with his new position. “It’s where I wanted to be right now, and I’m delighted that Enda Kenny has asked me to take up this role,” he said. “This is a very large portfolio that takes in a broad range of issues, and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into each of them.
“We have 552,000 unemployed in this country at the minute and I’ll be doing my all in this role to ensure that when we get into Government there’ll be jobs for those people or training schemes to ensure they have prospects of getting a job.” He added. “This new post is also about helping the disadvantaged in society, something I have always been very vocal about and will continue to be so. It’s not going to be an easy task, but it’s one I’m happy to have been given.”
After the bad press and the divisions in the party that saw the leadership challenge arise, Ring believes the new front bench is a step in the right direction towards uniting the party and moving towards Government.
“I’m glad to see the likes of Richard Bruton back on the front bench, the party has to come together and push forwards towards the next election and getting into Government.”
While it was good news for Dep Ring with his promotion, the third Mayo Fine Gael TD, Dep John O’Mahony, didn’t make it past the line for the new-look front bench, despite some speculation that he might be given a leg-up by Kenny. O’Mahony, who last Saturday night resigned as Mayo senior football manager following their elimination from the championship at the hands of Longford, is expected to continue as Fine Gael spokesperson with responsibility for sport.
