Burton takes on finance as Rabbitte announces front bench

Ms Joan Burton has been appointed Labour's finance spokesperson in the new leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte's, first shadow cabinet which was announced this afternoon.

Mr Rabbitte is to take over responsibility for Northern Ireland from the former leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn while the deputy-leader, Ms Liz McManus remains on at health.

Mr Quinn has been given responsibility for European Affairs and relations with the Party of European Socialists while Mr Michael D Higgins has retained responsibility for foreign affairs.

Ms Roisín Shortall, who was the only member of the parliamentary party not included on the front bench in Mr Quinn's last cabinet, has taken on the transport brief.

The party's chief whip, Mr Emmet Stagg, has retained that function in addition to taking on the Nuclear Safety brief.

Pat Rabbitte. . . . . . . . . . . Leader and Northern Ireland
Liz McManus. . . . . . . . . . . Deputy Leader and Health
Emmet Stagg. . . . . . . . . . . Chief Whip and Nuclear Safety
Brendan Howlin. . . . . . . . . . . Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Eamon Gilmore. . . . . . . . . . . Environment and Local Government
Willie Penrose. . . . . . . . . . . Social and Family Affairs
Roisín Shortall. . . . . . . . . . . Transport
Joan Burton. . . . . . . . . . . Finance
Joe Costello. . . . . . . . . . . Justice
Jan O'Sullivan. . . . . . . . . . . Education
Kalthleen Lynch. . . . . . . . . . . Consumer Affairs
Breda Moynihan Cronin. . . . . . . . . . . Equality and Law Reform
Brian O'Shea. . . . . . . . . . . Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
Michael D Higgins. . . . . . . . . . . Foreign Affairs
Tommy Broughan. . . . . . . . . . . Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and Assistant Whip
Jack Wall. . . . . . . . . . . Arts, Sports and Tourism
Joe Sherlock. . . . . . . . . . . Defence
Mary Upton. . . . . . . . . . . Agriculture and Food Safety
Sean Ryan. . . . . . . . . . . Older Persons Issues
Seamus Pattison. . . . . . . . . . . Leas Ceann Comhairle