Retains position as party Spokesperson for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform

Local Labour TD, Ged Nash has been appointed chairperson of the Parliamentary Party and Labour spokesperson on Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform as the party announced its new front bench today, at Leinster House.

With a total of eleven TDs and two Senators elected to the Oireachtas, Deputy Nash said that he and his Labour colleagues will continue to campaign to “build a fairer, more equal Ireland at national level in the Oireachtas”.

 “It is an honour to be appointed to chair our newly-expanded Labour Parliamentary Party” Deputy Nash said, adding that he is “looking forward to working with our eleven TDS and two Senators in holding the new government to account.”

The Louth Labour TD said he was “delighted” to retain his brief at Finance and Public Expenditure, the same role he served in the last Dáil term.

Deputy Nash said: “The new government is one with no vision or plan to secure our economic future.

“This new government has got off to a bad start. It’s been jobs for the boys at the Cabinet table and pulling strokes in the Dáíl. Parties in opposition will have to be more vigilant than ever.

“This wonky, three-legged stool of a government, has been stuck together by a marriage of convenience between FF and FG, propped up by a rag-tag mob of independents who can’t seem to decide whether they are in or out of government.”

The Louth TD said: “My confidence in this government achieving anything in the interests of working people, is at an all-time low.

“The commitment to a Living Wage for low-paid workers has disappeared from this Programme for Government and a row-back on workers’ rights has been signalled by a government that appears to be lurching to the right.”

Deputy Nash said: “Labour favours the public need over private greed and consistently during the General Election campaign, we called for a more active State in the provision of housing, rolling out a public childcare system and providing a decent health service and public services. We will continue to make that case.

“In the last Dáil I pressured the government consistently on the cost of living, providing practical and constructive solutions towards bringing grocery and energy bills down for struggling working families.

“That campaign will continue and intensify in this new Dáil where I’m committed to fighting for a fair deal for workers and their families.”

The Louth TD concluded: “I’m honoured once again, to play my part on the front bench of our party, in building a better and fairer Ireland and fighting for the people of Louth who have placed their trust in me once more.”