FORMER Agriculture Minister Barry Cowen has turned down a spokesperson role offered to him by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
Mr Martin has appointed a number of backbench TDs as spokespersons in areas where Fianna Fáil does not hold a portfolio.
However, some party TDs have played down the significance of the roles. One Fianna Fáil TD who had not received a call from the Taoiseach and was not expecting one, texted: "He can stick it up... "
The Fianna Fáil leader offered Mr Cowen a role in the area of climate action but the former minister turned down the position.