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20 Jan 2026
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20 Jan 2026
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Barry Cowen
Offaly TD Barry Cowen has been given a new challenge by Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin after the Cork man reshuffled his front bench.
Cowen has been switched from housing to Public Expenditure and Reform where he'll be tasked with keeping the government's spending in check from the opposition side of Leinster House.
Cowen has been outspoken on the homelessness issue in his role in housing, and just this week blasted the government over another increase in those figures.
SEE ALSO: Offaly's Barry Cowen condemns latest homelessness figures
Among the other changes in Fine Gael, Dara Calleary has become the deputy leader and former Social Democrat Stephen Donnelly has taken over the health brief where he will take on Minister Simon Harris.
Martin has stepped up efforts to change the face of the party afte recent polls show them lagging behind a Fine Gael party resurgant under the leadership of Leo Varadkar.
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