‘MISSED OPPORTUNITY’

TIMID, drab, stale and pedestrian – just some of the words being used to describe Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s much anticipated Cabinet reshuffle.

Far from giving the Government a fresh look, no one was sacked and only two new ministers were promoted to the top table – and the elevation of Pat Carey, 62, and Tony Killeen, 57, actually raised the average age of Cabinet members.

Embattled Tánaiste Mary Coughlan and out of favour Mary Hanafin both suffered embarrassing demotions, while Mr Cowen ignored the cost-cutting recommendations of the McCarthy report and refused to axe the tourism or Gaeltacht departments, or drop any serving minister from the Cabinet at all.