If anyone can reform our social welfare system, Joan Burton can

DEAR Joan

And then, all of a sudden, all hell broke loose. I didn’t understand it when it happened and I don’t understand it now.

All sorts of commentators appeared suddenly from the woodwork to cry foul. Not one of those commentators had demanded in advance of the election that you should be in the Department of Finance. Quite a few of them had spent a good deal of the election campaign sneering at you, especially in the light of your battle with Vincent Browne.