FF backbenchers bemoan ‘same stale faces’

DESPONDENT Fianna Fáil TDs said Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, has done nothing to rescue the party’s electoral prospects by keeping the same stale faces in Government.

“The only change is there are now six teachers in Cabinet instead of four,” said one of the many backbenchers overlooked for promotion.

The junior coalition partners the Green Party, were granted their demand of two junior minister positions. But just one FF TD, Sean Connick, moved up to the Minister of State ranks.

“It doesn’t set us on an election footing,” said a younger TD echoing a view common among his colleagues that the Taoiseach should have been more radical.

“There is no dynamism, there is no change ofdirection, there is no platform for challenging the next election, That is a missed opportunity,” he said.

“If we are to come back with a reasonable number of seats, we have to go out with a credible team, with a new focus to connect with the people. Those in there at the moment aren’t doing that,” he said.

“Steady as she goes” was the verdict of one TD while another claimed the Taoiseach “played it safe” in not sacking any of his senior ministers and promoting Pat Carey and Tony Killeen to Cabinet.

A Dublin TD said: “Change is good but there wasn’t much change,” adding: “It should have been more far-reaching.”

Many FF deputies said their anger was not directed at the Green Party whose TDs were promoted at their expense.

“With the Greens, I took the view that if it was a deal, then it was a deal, I haven’t heard much grumbling about that,” said one.

Instead, they were more concerned the Taoiseach overlooked younger TDs who could improve the party’s image.

“It was an opportunity to take a particularly dynamic group who would go out and push the message, fight the corner, change the image, change the focus, bring something fresh. That’s what the party needs and he didn’t take that opportunity,” said one TD.

“There are people I see who would make very good ministers and are sorry that their time hasn’t come,” said another TD.

The parliamentary party will meet today, but it is unlikely the troops will make any complaints about yesterday’s reshuffle.