Enda Kenny’s announcement of his front bench line-up last week left Galway voters out in the cold, with East Galway TD Paul Connaughton dropped from the team.

With 20 new TDs and a wealth of talent, experience and ability to choose from, the Fine Gael leader left out both Galway constituencies in his new team of spokespersons.

However, Deputy Connaughton told the Galway Independent that he felt the move was for the party’s betterment, saying it was “like picking the Galway minor team; people are picked for their various talents”. “When you’re after spending nearly 25 years on it, I couldn’t say I’ve tears in my eyes,” he said.

Deputy Connaughton’s responsibilities lay in the areas of regional development and emigrant affairs. These jobs have now been divided between Denis Naughton of Roscommon/South Leitrim, who now has responsibility for Emigrant Affairs and Immigrants, and Enda Kenny’s constituency colleague Michael Ring, who will speak on regional development.

Deputy Connaughton said that he was glad the regional development job had been kept in the West of Ireland. Fine Gael has the edge on other parties, with its focus on the West, he felt. 

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