Dramatic reshuffle catches many off guard
The biggest surprise came with the appointment of Brian Lenihan to the key role of finance minister after less than a year at the top table covering the justice portfolio.
There was another dramatic promotion for Mary Coughlan who left the Agriculture Department to become tánaiste and minister for enterprise.
Mr Cowen also caught many off-guard by effectively demoting Mary Hanafin by moving her to social and family affairs from education and giving her old job to Cabinet newcomer Batt O’Keeffe.
Micheál Martin was switched from enterprise to foreign affairs, where he replaced Dermot Ahern who moved to justice.
Brendan Smith joined the cabinet as agriculture minister and Barry Andrews was promoted to the “super-junior” role responsible for children.
North Dublin TD Pat Carey was elevated to chief whip as Tom Kitt returned to the back benches.
Martin Cullen left social and family affairs after less than a year in the role to take over arts, sport and tourism after Séamus Brennan announced he would not be remaining in cabinet due to health reasons.
Mary Harney retained her position as minister for health, with Willie O’Dea remaining in defence and the two Green ministers John Gormley and Eamon Ryan, holding on to environment and communications, energy and natural resources, respectively.
Noel Dempsey was left in charge of transport and Eamon Ó Cuív retained responsibility for community, rural and gaeltacht affairs.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore dismissed the changes as producing nothing more than a “recycled single-party Fianna Fáil Government”.
“The captain’s armband has been changed, there are a few substitutions, and some position switches, but this is essentially the same government that has been in office for the last 11 years.
“This Government coasted along in good times, they had untold resources to throw at problems, they heartily congratulated themselves on their supposed accomplishments.
“It is not a government capable of seeing our country through the difficult days that lie ahead, or to imbue our society with a new purpose and a new sense of national direction,” Mr Gilmore told TDs.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny congratulated the new cabinet, but he warned they faced a rough ride.
“You come into this house with your new seals of office, at a time when the Fianna Fáil slogan ‘A lot done—– a lot more to do’ has become a sick reminder of riches squandered and hopes dashed. By assigning blame for our economic woes on foreign factors alone, Mr Cowen and his new government encourage a dangerously complacent attitude: ‘stay the course, wait for the storm to pass, and we’ll be alright’.”
Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin launched a strong attack on Ms Harney’s record as health minister.
Although she performed well in the Department of Agriculture, Ms Coughlan had long been considered in the second tier of Fianna Fáil ministers. That all changed with the arrival of Brian Cowen as taoiseach. She was appointed Tánaiste and, for good measure, promoted to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Cementing a meteoric rise, Mr Lenihan was appointed Finance Minister yesterday. For years, Mr Lenihan was considered the most talented Fianna Fáil politician not in Cabinet. That changed last year. Now, less than a year on, he has hold of the public purse.
An able junior minister, but even Mr O’Keeffe may have been surprised by his elevation. Given that Brian Cowen had room to play with, and that Mr O’Keeffe was a close ally, it was always a possibility that the Cork TD would be promoted. But most thought it would be to one of the lower-ranked ministries. With his appointment to Education, Mr O’Keeffe has more reason to smile than any other minister.
Was always expected to be promoted, and had been mentioned as a candidate for Finance, but will happily settle for Justice. Mr Ahern will recognise that a strong performance in this department will cement his leadership credentials.
Not given a senior ministry, but has taken a big step towards it. Mr Andrews was appointed Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, a “super-junior” ministry, meaning he gets to sit at cabinet but is not a full member. Considering he was a backbench TD up to yesterday, he’ll be delighted with that.
Was Children’s Minister until yesterday but now becomes a full Cabinet member with his appointment to the Department of Agriculture.
Once talked of a possible future leader of Fianna Fáil, but yesterday’s events proved how premature that talk was.
Although she will argue otherwise, being moved from the Department of Education to the Department of Social and Family Affairs was a demotion, and must have stung a politician considered among the most able in Fianna Fáil.
There will be a lot of sympathy for Mr Kitt, who had served in numerous junior ministries since 1992 and as Government chief whip — a difficult and thankless task at the best of times — since 2004.
Mr Cowen had spoken of political loyalty as a virtue, yet Mr Kitt’s loyalty was overlooked. The circumstances in which he departed the office of chief whip are not yet clear, but apparently stemmed from the fact he was not offered a senior ministry.
Will be hugely disappointed.
Putting him in this category may be unfair to a minister who has stayed in his portfolio at the Department of Defence, where he has performed ably since 2004. But that’s the whole point. He feels he is capable of much more, and was known to be disappointed at being overlooked for promotion when Bertie Ahern announced his new government last year. Has now been overlooked a second time by Brian Cowen.
Will be happy to remain in cabinet, given the flak he has taken over the years, yet Mr Cullen now has the lowest-ranked portfolio, namely Arts, Sports and Tourism. This means that, come the next reshuffle, he will be the most likely casualty.
The Immigrant Council of Ireland welcomed Dermot Ahern’s appointment to the justice portfolio and said it looked forward to working closely with him.
“We are delighted that a minister of Mr Ahern’s stature has been given responsibility for immigration matters,” said chief executive, Denise Charlton. “This is a crucial time to be taking over the portfolio, with the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill being debated.”
Macra congratulated Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith on his new post but warned it would bring challenging times.
“He faces immediate challenges such as the WTO and the CAP health check, and farm waste management scheme, along with young farmer-specific issues such as the continual supports and incentives to young farmers to readdress the age profile in agriculture,” the organisation said.
Batt O’Keeffe’s priority as minister for education should be on tackling chronic under-funding and lack of morale in the third level sector.
“We look forward to meeting with the Minister O’Keefe and his officials at an early date. Given the seriousness of the funding crisis facing our universities, a three-tiered approach, involving the Department, senior university management and IFUT should work together to formulate a new approach to defending and funding third level education,” said general secretary Mike Jennings.
The INTO said Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe faced a “daunting task” in ending overcrowding in classes and ensuring that primary education was properly funded and resourced.
General secretary John Carr said Mr O’Keeffe’s priority must be to secure a significant budget increase. “Already the system is creaking under recent modest increases in the school population.”
Mr Carr said things would get a lot worse unless proper planning and increased resources became the order of the day.
IHF president Matthew Ryan welcomed the arrival of Martin Cullen in the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, saying he would bring a “vast wealth of experience” to the job.
“From day one, Minister Cullen will have a leading role in shaping the direction of Irish tourism, particularly in light of the major competitive challenges confronting the industry,” he said.
“Irish tourism is now at a cross roads and facing a challenging economic environment both domestically and in our important UK and US markets.”
Independent producers said Martin Cullen was assured of their support in his new role in arts, sport and tourism.
Chief executive Sean Stokes also paid tribute to retiring minister, Seamus Brennan. “We would like to thank him for the many positive contributions he has made to the film, television and animation production Industry in Ireland, not least the increases in funding made available to the Irish Film Board, and the welcome extension of the Section 481 tax incentive for film, television and animation production until 2012.”
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