BREAKING: Smyth appointed FF Arts spokesperson

Bailieborough TD Niamh Smyth has just been appointed party spokesperson for Arts and Heritage, The Anglo Celt can reveal.

The appointment was predicted by this paper last week and puts the county's first-ever female TD, who is an arts and dance teacher by profession, in direct opposition to the current Arts Minister and Cavan-Mongahan TD Heather Humphreys.

Party colleague Brendan Smith TD has been replaced as spokesperson for foreign affairs by Dubliner Darragh O'Brien TD and the Cavan Town native has been reappointed chairman of the parliamentary party.

FF leader Micheal Martin said:

'In the new reformed Dáil, the Oireachtas committees will play an absolutely crucial role and under the D’Hondt system, Fianna Fáil will have the opportunity to nominate Chairs to a number of those committees.

'I look forward to announcing those nominees and a number of junior spokespeople roles over the coming weeks. Today I have also reappointed Brendan Smith TD as Chairman of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party.'

The Celt understands that Deputy Smith, a TD since 1992, has been offered a chairmanship of the new, empowered Oireachtas committees and accepted the role instead of a spokesperson brief.

Under the new Dail make-up and reforms the committees have been given a wider brief and more powers.