Cabinet Reshuffle

[passinginterest]

Most of the changes make sense, but I'm not sure they far enough, it's going to cost an absolute fortune in rebranding all the Department's not to mention the cost of refitting offices for fussy ministers and their fussy advisors, they might as well have gone the whole hog and established some fresh new Department's rather than pushing around the deck chairs.

[dahamsta]

Much more efficient to sack the lot of them, including himself. Say what you like about Enda, he's more competent than Biffo. But then a sheep shagger from Offaly is more competent than Biffo.

(Lest there be any confusion, Biffo is from Offaly but he isn't a sheep shagger. He is, of course, a pigf*cker.)

[passinginterest]

I'd agree 100% that we should be looking at a new Government, rather than a cabinet reshuffle, but in terms of organisation of the Department's and their various responsibilities some of the changes make perfect sense. Unfortunately the current administration is likely to continue to run said Departments into the ground with their ludicrous policy and decision making.

[DeLorean]

A load of horse-sh!t. Loads of name changes and no actual changes, needless expense just to be seen to be doing something.

[OneRedArmy]

The Department of Social Protection sounds like some kind of Orwellian, Minority Report-esque construct.

Its good to know that it will still be full of the usual pen-pushers, junket-lovers and general incompetentos that we've come to know and love :)

[SkStu]

thats it ORA, im reporting you for thoughtcrime.

[Spudulika]

Mary Hanafin looks like she got hosed, while how Coughlan remains with a portfolio is beyond me. Everything changes but everything stays the same.

[Dodge]

The Department of Social Protection sounds like some kind of Orwellian, Minority Report-esque construct.


yeah but we'll no longer have a Minister there. we'll have "THE SOCIAL PROTECTOR" (complete with cape and mask I'd assume)

[endabob1]

(Lest there be any confusion, Biffo is from Offaly but he isn't a sheep shagger. He is, of course, a pigf*cker.)

Source? ;)

[dahamsta]

http://info-wars.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/455912.jpg

[John83]

That's only really evidence that his mum was one.

[endabob1]

That picture makes me chuckle, makes him look like a cartoon character :D
Poor Brian.... I do have some sympathy for my fellow Biffo but only because in the age old tradition of Irish Politics, "his da did me a good turn once"

[juan]

A cosmetic cabinet reshuffle and still not a looker among them. On a serious note though I'm baffled as to why Mary Coughlan and Mary Harney still have Ministerial positions. Incompetence doesn't begin to cover them. Mary Hannafin seems able to do a job wouldn't mind seeing her in health. The reshuffle means nothing though as there is no real leadership from Cowen to bring about proper solutions.

[mypost]

A load of horse-sh!t. Loads of name changes and no actual changes, needless expense just to be seen to be doing something.

What expense?? There's always a reshuffle halfway through a government term. In fact, this is the second one, because Ahern left. Technically, it should have been done last September.

Not happy with O'Cuiv given the "Iraq" that is the Social Welfare department. Also we have a sly new name for Coughlan's old job. It's no longer the Dept. of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, it's merely the Dept, of E, T, and "Innovation".

Sign of the times I'm afraid.

[Dodge]

What expense?? There's always a reshuffle halfway through a government term. In fact, this is the second one, because Ahern left. Technically, it should have been done last September.

Not happy with O'Cuiv given the "Iraq" that is the Social Welfare department. Also we have a sly new name for Coughlan's old job. It's no longer the Dept. of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, it's merely the Dept, of E, T, and "Innovation".

Sign of the times I'm afraid.

Answered yourself there. All the new Departents need new branding, which means new graphics, new letterheads, new websites, new logos on all there forms etc etc etc.

[mypost]

Most Departments are the same. Most Ministers are in the same jobs.

[Macy]

Answered yourself there. All the new Departents need new branding, which means new graphics, new letterheads, new websites, new logos on all there forms etc etc etc.
Including the really pointless change from Arts, Sport and Tourism to Tourism, Culture & Sport. WTF...

mypost, most departments are the same, so why the need for pointless names changes? There will be some cost as outlined by Dodge, although he doesn't include the scrapping of previously printed materials.

[Mr A]

I think the government is on the road to collapse. A lot of FF backbenchers getting stroppy and looking to disassociate themselves from the leadership to give them a chance of keeping their seats and a very thin majority at this stage. Plus the Greens may feel that if it looks like falling apart then maybe they should be the ones to pull the pin on it.

It could be that the next issue to blow up could be the governments last one.

[Macy]

They'd have to vote against the Government first. Even the oft referenced Joe Behan has ever done that once! Same old same old FF backbenchers talk the talk without walking the walk - taking lessons from media darling Mattie McGrath!

[Dodge]

Most Departments are the same. Most Ministers are in the same jobs.

But not all of them, hence it will still cost a fair amount.

[dahamsta]

On a serious note though I'm baffled as to why Mary Coughlan and Mary Harney still have Ministerial positions. Incompetence doesn't begin to cover them. Mary Hannafin seems able to do a job wouldn't mind seeing her in health.I'd take Harney over Hanafin any day of the week*.

I agree with Mr A about the stability of the government, I can't see it lasting the year. If only Kenny and Gilmore could be "misplaced"...

* The author would like to note that this is not a sexual innuendo in any way, shape or form.

[mypost]

I think the government is on the road to collapse. A lot of FF backbenchers getting stroppy and looking to disassociate themselves from the leadership to give them a chance of keeping their seats and a very thin majority at this stage. Plus the Greens may feel that if it looks like falling apart then maybe they should be the ones to pull the pin on it.

It could be that the next issue to blow up could be the governments last one.

I don't think so. They got through Lisbon. They got through the renegotiation, and the budget, they got through the resignations, and they'll get through this. FF'ers are pragmatists after all, and the Greens haven't the bottle to vote turkeys for Christmas. Even the PD's were prepared to stick it to FF down through the years, but the Greens just ask how high every time when FF ask them to jump.

[dahamsta]

That's a very simplistic view mypost. It's not just about public opinion, plain jane numbers come into it too. The government already has a very slim majority, and they're going to lose more votes. They won't last the year. You may present me with a hat to eat in January if I'm wrong.

[mypost]

Simplistic or not. it's reality. Every scandal that's broken in the past two years, from the credit crunch, to the banks, to the confidence motions, to the budgets, the coalition has remained upright. For most votes now, they have a majority of 6 or so in the Dail to carry them. Short of a major unexpected scandal, I can see them seeing the 2 years out.

2 FFers came out to criticise Cowen for his reshuffle to something they voted for. I'm afraid lads, it's too late. If you don't believe in something, don't approve it. They should have thrown down a party no confidence motion instead, if they believed what they did. All their words have done, is made Cowen's supporters rally round him.

[dahamsta]

If you can't see the difference between the stability of the government a year ago and the stability of the government now, you don't understand how governments work.

[bennocelt]

But wouldn't the FF backbenchers want to get rid of Cowen if they were going to head into a general election - no chance of doing well at all with Cowen at the helm, so maybe they will be looking to oust him soon or at least September?