MacLochlainn pleased to still be Sinn Féin ‘team captain’ after reshuffle

Donegal Sinn Féin TD Pádraig MacLochlainn says he is pleased to be continuing on as the “team captain” of the party’s Oireachtas members after it was announced he will remain on as chief whip until the next general election.

Party leader Mary Lou McDonald announced on Monday the frontbench team that will lead the party into the general election. Mr MacLochlainn will also be continuing as the party’s spokesperson on fisheries and the marine. 

His fellow Donegal TD Pearse Doherty is remaining as finance spokesperson. Ten changes have been made to the party’s frontbench team.

Mr MacLochlainn has held the two positions since July 2020 and said he is particularly pleased to be remaining on as chief whip.

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“I suppose it’s like a team captain is how I would describe it. Your job is to make sure everybody is taken care of, and obviously, they put a lot of trust in you. It’s an extremely demanding job. You’ve got all those TDs - we need them to be doing their best for their constituents, doing the best for the country. 

“It's about making sure people are in the right headspace and making sure the Government is held to account and there is a proper opportunity to hold the Government to account.”

He said the fisheries and marine portfolio is “one I am passionate about too”.

“From Inishowen, you are surrounded by water. I have known fishermen all my life and I feel very strongly that they have been treated really badly for a long time.”

The Buncrana-based TD welcomed the changes made to the frontbench team.

“We are determined to be the next Government and we need a team of people who have a good spread of expertise, a good working knowledge of different areas. I think it is a very good reshuffle. I know their abilities and I am very excited about it.”