Ending jobs for the boys would be sign of real reform
Brian Cowen’s administration had been getting it in the neck from Fine Gael about state appointments.
Fine Gael believed Fianna Fáil would use its final weeks in office to stuff state boards and agencies with its own people.
With the general election looming, Mr Cowen wanted to counter such a damaging charge.
He therefore discussed the matter with ministers and had the statement issued shortly afterwards.
“Given his concern at unfounded reports about the intentions of the Government regarding appointments to state agencies and other bodies, the Taoiseach proposed to the Government this morning that it confirm publicly its commitment to applying best practice to the making of such appointments.
“The Government will not consider making appointments in advance of vacancies occurring. Where vacancies have arisen, appointments will not be made where it is clearly necessary to consider changes in structure or function, in which case these will fall to be considered by an incoming administration.
“Where appointments are being made, the relevant minister will prepare for each vacancy a specification of the skills, experience or qualifications which are appropriate for the appointment in question and will set out the basis on which these are met by the person being proposed for appointment.”
Some people around Leinster House took this as meaning the Government would effectively halt any further appointments to boards, unless such appointments were time-sensitive and could not wait.
In fact, it was nothing of the sort. It was merely a typically nuanced political statement, offering a commitment that came with caveats.
A little over a month later, with a change of power about to take place, Fianna Fáil ministers were effectively clearing their desks.
It was March 9, their last full day in office. The following day, at noon, the Dáil would elect a new Taoiseach.
Mary Hanafin was in her final hours as Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister. One of her last actions was to fill a vacancy that had arisen on the board of the Irish Sports Council.
The vacancy had arisen because of the death the previous month of Michael Spain, a distinguished GAA administrator and referee.
At the time of his death, Mr Spain had been honorary president of his club, Kilcormac/Killoughey.
Ms Hanafin did not go very far for a replacement. She settled on Danny Owens, a member of the same club and another Offaly GAA man of impeccable pedigree.
Mr Owens also had excellent political connections. A county councillor for Fianna Fáil in Offaly, he is based in Tullamore, home to Brian Cowen.
A close friend of Mr Cowen’s, he served as director of elections for the party in the Tullamore electoral area and helped get the former Taoiseach’s brother, Barry, elected to the Dáil.
Mr Owens does not believe he was appointed to the council because of those connections, however.
“I don’t see it that way. I’m involved in Offaly Sports Partnership for a number of years, I played hurling for Offaly for many years, I coached Offaly teams, I’ve been involved in sport all my life, so it’s not like somebody coming to a board who has no real connection or any kind of experience in the whole area — I’ve a lot of it,” he said. “As regards suitability for the role, I wouldn’t see that (as) being in question.”
Certainly, nobody could argue with his credentials. Mr Owens won All-Ireland hurling titles in 1981 and 1985. At the Offaly Sports Partnership, a body supported by the sports council, he and colleagues seek to promote participation in sport in the county.
Yet the last-minute nature of his appointment by Ms Hanafin raises questions as to whether politicians should be determining these kinds of appointment.
It is entirely possible — and unfortunate for Mr Owens — that some will view his political connections as being the main reason for his appointment rather than his impressive track record in sport.
Particularly so when, as recently reported, former Communications Minister Pat Carey appointed Peter Ormond, another Offaly Fianna Fáil councillor friendly with Mr Cowen, to the board of An Post on the same day.
The simple way to avoid question marks about political connections is to have an independent body make such appointments.
During the election, Fine Gael pledged that, if returned to power, they would establish a “public appointments commission” to appoint members to state boards.
Fine Gael itself, however, was no stranger to appointing party members and friends to boards during its previous stint in power.
The public appointments commission would be a good first step to prove they and Labour are truly serious about political reform.
