Waterford Fianna Fail TD Mary Butler says that political representation at cabinet level is important for the development of the South East region.
Fianna Fáil announced a re-shuffle of its front bench this week, promoting Dara Calleary to deputy leader of the party, Barry Cowen to Public Expenditure, and Darragh O'Brien to housing among st others.
However none of the parties South Eastern TD's received front bench appointments.
Deputy Butler says she's hopeful that she will be able to stake a place in cabinet in the future.
"In the last government (FG-Lab coalition) we were being squeezed by strong ministerial representation from Kilkenny in Minister Phil Hogan, and from Wexford in Minister Brendan Howlin," she says. "There's no doubt about it, in order for the region to progress, we do need people at the cabinet table.
Deputy Butler says he hopes that in the future, she "could be elevated further up the ranks."
