Cosgrave was right

DISCONTENT in the Labour Party about the allocation of ministerial posts, which last week centred on the appointment of Joan Burton, has not dissipated.

The Taoiseach’s judgement and choice of ministers for carrying out his overall coordinating role in the government brings to mind the formation of Liam Cosgrave’s government in 1973 when speculation was rife that Garret FitzGerald would make a splendid Minister for Finance. But Cosgrave placed him in Foreign Affairs much to the relief of the majority within the parliamentary party.

Cosgrave pointed out the danger of appointing a strong-minded economist as the minds of economists can at times be resistant to economic consideration.