 MacSharry was re-elected to the Dáil at the 1973 general election, however, Fianna Fáil were out of power as a Fine Gael–Labour Party government came to power.In Taoiseach Jack Lynch's subsequent front bench reshuffle, MacSharry was appointed Opposition Spokesperson on the Office of Public Works.Following the 1977 general election, Fianna Fáil returned to government with a massive twenty-seat Dáil majority.