Deputy pays price for speaking out

WHILE understanding why the Taoiseach needed to reduce the number of junior ministers, I wonder about the reasoning or motive behind the surprise demotion of Kilkenny deputy John McGuinness.

Apart from the fact that his track record as a minister was impressive at both national and local level (he worked hard to attract new industry and job creation to his constituency), I wonder what part the deputy’s tendency to “tell it like it is”, and hold his own party and the Government up to scrutiny, played in the decision to banish this very capable man to the Dáil backbenches.

He was most eloquent speaking on local radio of the challenges facing post-Celtic Tiger Ireland and delivered a no-holds-barred analysis of the economic crisis.