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JUNIOR MINISTER JACK Chambers has been named the new deputy leader of Fianna Fáil.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin announced his appointment to the role outside Government Buildings this evening.
The position of deputy leader has been vacant since August 2020, when Dara Calleary resigned as Minister for Agriculture following the fallout from the infamous Oireachtas Golf Society dinner in Galway.
Chambers, the Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin West, serves as a Minister of State in the Department of Transport.
Martin said the appointment is part of the “reorganisation of Fianna Fáil” over the next eight months “and in particular, the next general election”.
Micheal Martin announces that Jack Chambers is now the new deputy leader of Fianna Fáil. pic.twitter.com/colwg529YN
— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) June 19, 2024
“I’m very focused on that and Jack will now be a critical part of our broader effort to both defend the seats we have and increase the seats in Dáil Éireann,” he said.
He said Chambers has “displayed an extraordinary commitment and dedication to political life, the most recent manifestation of that was in his capacity as director of elections for Fianna Fáil in the local elections”.
Chambers said it was a great privilege to be asked to serve as deputy leader of Fianna Fáil and to previously serve as director of elections for the local elections.
He said the party’s results in the elections “exceeded all expectations”, with 248 councillors elected and double the numbers of MEPs in the European Parliament.
“But that’s in the past, we’ve drawn a line under that, and we’re ambitious as a party about the future,” he said.
“This government has about eight months to go and we’re keen as a party to really drive new organisation, new ambition and new plans for the future to look at the next five years.”
Martin denied that the decision was in any way paving the way for him to step down and confirmed that he would lead Fianna Fáil into the next general election.
He also confirmed that he would make an announcement in relation to the nomination of Ireland’s next European Commissioner by next week.
Jack Chambers has held various other high profile roles, including Government Chief Whip, and Minister of State for Sport, the Gaeltacht and Defence.
He was elected to the Dáil in the February 2016 General Election and was re-elected in the 2020 General Election.
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Another false promise from the government and the HSE.. surprise surprise
@LFCMAD_94: Typical. Blame the HSE and our government fir a worldwide shortage of the flu vacine.
@Alan: did I blame them for shortages? I blamed them for promising things they will never deliever
@LFCMAD_94: typical person who didn’t read the article before posting
@Alan: don’t think it is the HSE or government fault.. BLAME the pharmaceutical company’s greed.. the uk seem to have enough. What are we being charged? What are other countries being charged? I smell foul play.. and greed .
The ceo of hse Paul Reid should be sacked. He comes on TV as if he runs the hse without fault. He is a W a s t e r with no health background and get paid an absorbent amount to push paper and read out prepared statements on tv that are written for him. He can’t even get the flu vacine right,when he new this was coming .
A total waste of money that a monkey could do his job.
No issue here rang my Dr a week ago for flu jab had my appointment Tuesday gone. Both my parents only had to wait a few days my friend only had to wait a few days and got both his flu jab and pneumonia jab.
@Tom Harpur Photography: Someone give this man his medal.
@Tom Harpur Photography: lucky you.. none in the north east
If you could get through to the gp it might help.
This country is the biggest joke. Encouraging everyone to get the flu vaccine and not even having enough for the most vulnerable. Absolute shambles
@Toni: try actually reading the article.
Flu cases are going to plummet this year anyway with all this social distancing. Flu is not as contagious as COVID.
@J: and it’s the same cohort that is at risk from Covid. So they are unlikely to be hit with the flu and Covid at separate times
@Anne Marie Devlin: why?
@J: Most flu variants would be just as contagious as Covid, but dont spread as widely due to limited opportunity. The majority of people infected with Covid can be walking around and interacting with others while having little or no symptoms for the entirety of their infection. The majority of people infected with a flu virus will have nasty, fast onset symptoms which means they will be at home in bed and interacting with very few within hours of the symptoms first appearing. I’ve only had flu twice in my life with the last time being roughly 25yrs ago, but its an illness you don’t forget in a hurry.
“In contrast to COVID, children are vectors for flu”. This is ridiculous. Of course children spread COVID. Not their fault but they spread everything. As a mother myself, I have first hand experience of this. Not saying we should close schools but thinking that kids don’t spread it is serious denial.
One thing this pandemic showed was that the medical system in France isn’t quite as good as people thought it was, but we can still get the flu vaccine free at any pharmacy….
@David Stapleton: only if they have a supply!!
Any update on the flu vaccine supply situation? Looks like loads of vulnerable people are not going to be able to get it this year
have your say