Ministers must be wary of minefields ahead
Micheál Martin often complained that he spent most of his time firefighting crises instead of focusing time and energy on the overall picture.
Crucially, though, Harney will be hoping to avoid a lot of the Fianna Fáil grassroots pressure that Martin could not afford to ignore.
But the key to her success, or otherwise, in the minefield of health will be her relationship with the man who now controls the Government’s purse strings, Brian Cowen.
It is unthinkable that she would have taken on such a risky challenge without at least an understanding with the new Finance Minister that any necessary funding will be forthcoming.
Apart from an obligatory giveaway and socially conscious budget in December, it remains to be seen how the former Foreign Affairs Minister will approach his portfolio.
But the man who coined the “Angola” description of the health portfolio will be well aware of his ability to trip up Harney’s plans should relations between the Government partners become strained.
Nevertheless, she hit the ground running yesterday promising a health service accessible to every citizen regardless of their wealth.
Despite the bad reputation, and the best efforts of PD president Michael McDowell, the new Health Minister will be anxious to prove her party does actually have a social conscience.
Over in the Department of Transport, Martin Cullen will be another of the most visible ministers in the coming months as tensions with unions continue over transport reform.
Aer Rianta will cease to exist from this week while a decision must be reached in a matter of weeks on the privatisation of Aer Lingus.
As if that weren’t enough, the impending break-up of CIÉ has also caused palpitations at the heart of Government, requiring the Taoiseach’s direct intervention more than once.
Given the land mines ahead, Cullen has a difficult task to bring unions on board without causing the entire transport system to grind to a halt.
But he has one important asset - he is not Seamus Brennan. Following years of what unions believe was nothing short of direct antagonism from Brennan, relations between the transport unions and the Government had reached breaking point.
Although Cullen’s PD credentials remain high, despite his current party status, unions last night were cautiously welcoming of a change at the top.
At the very least they are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, something the Government has not been afforded recently when it comes to transport negotiations.
