A minister appointed – Taoiseach must crack the whip

When ambitious ideologies and contracting budgets collide there is almost inevitably a period of disappointment followed by a compromise and then, maybe, a tolerable resolution.

When idealism, if that is not too trite an idea for a programme for government, and the exigencies of political life collide then the higher path is not always chosen.

Health Minister Dr James Reilly’s decision to add two primary health care centres in his constituency, neither of which satisfied an agreed criteria, to a list finalised by his former deputy Labour’s Róisín Shortall was a shabby abuse of power straight out of the Soldiers of Destiny Handbook of Self-serving Strokes.