Where is the Government?

[krayZpaving]

"Where is the Government?" asked Enda Kenny before being told to sit down by the Ceann Comhairle this morning.
He was referring to the fact that the Order of Business was being taken in the Dáil by no the Taoiseach; not the Tánaiste; not the Minister for Finance; nor the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Not any Minister more senior than... Seamus Brennan, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs.

Now, p.ie readers have the greatest respect for the Minister and his Department, but he is far from the highest ranking Minister in Government. What items of Governmental duty were so important that none of the senior Ministers could be bothered to turn up in the Dáil today?

Normally, Minister McDowell handles the Order of Business on a Thursday - giving a chance to Opposition Members to attack him directly, and giving the colour writers a chance to have something interesting to report. But no sign of the Tánaiste today.
Often, Minister Cowen will take the Order of Business in the Tánaiste's absence - as the next most senior Cabinet member.

Today, we get Seamie Brennan, (in)ably assisted by Dick Roche. That's just not good enough, and it makes a mockery of the business of the House.

[qtman]

That's just not good enough, and it makes a mockery of the business of the House.

So does pretending to be in Opposition.

[hiding behind a poster]

That's just not good enough, and it makes a mockery of the business of the House.

So does pretending to be in Opposition.

Care to clarify that meaningless, vacuous statement?

[Dunny]

"Where is the Government?" asked Enda Kenny before being told to sit down by the Ceann Comhairle this morning.
He was referring to the fact that the Order of Business was being taken in the Dáil by no the Taoiseach; not the Tánaiste; not the Minister for Finance; nor the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Not any Minister more senior than... Seamus Brennan, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs.

Now, p.ie readers have the greatest respect for the Minister and his Department, but he is far from the highest ranking Minister in Government. What items of Governmental duty were so important that none of the senior Ministers could be bothered to turn up in the Dáil today?

Normally, Minister McDowell handles the Order of Business on a Thursday - giving a chance to Opposition Members to attack him directly, and giving the colour writers a chance to have something interesting to report. But no sign of the Tánaiste today.
Often, Minister Cowen will take the Order of Business in the Tánaiste's absence - as the next most senior Cabinet member.

Today, we get Seamie Brennan, (in)ably assisted by Dick Roche. That's just not good enough, and it makes a mockery of the business of the House.

If im not mistaken, seniority in the cabinet is based on years served in the cabinet. After the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Min for Finance (who are automatically the top three), Seamus Brennan is top dog in the cabinet

[krayZpaving]

Nope, there's a rank based on the posts. I think it's from the order in which they are announced to the House by the Taoiseach during his last reshuffle.
According to Pat Rabbitte, Brennan is 8th - i.e. the bottom half of the table.

[Limerick Lad]

The Ginger Whinger didn't want to face the barrage of questions he'd have faced about his underhand attempt to undermine the Mahon Tribunal on the basis that it costs too much and that because the fact that planning corruption has already been established by the Tribunal, why should we still want to know exactly who was involved. Letting Bertie and his mates off the hook from the awkward questions they'll have to answer at the Mahon Tribunal if it is allowed to continue is just another little service he can do for his lord and master.

[Respvblica]

We have to face it that the Dail is becoming increasingly irrelevent to the power politics of today. I dont know where it will lead but its not healthy. You cannot tell a man like Bertie that he has a civic duty which relates to his position to stand in the Dail report and answer questions. He will take the path of least resistance if he can get away from it. This is not Dev or WTCopsgrave we're talking about here. Political rights are a low priorirt at the moment.

The people, the politicians from all parties have a lot to answer for why things have been allowed to continue the way they have since the 1980s(economically good, but politically corrosive).

[qtman]

That's just not good enough, and it makes a mockery of the business of the House.

So does pretending to be in Opposition.

Care to clarify that meaningless, vacuous statement?

If you substantially agree with the direction of Government policy, using the Order of Business to trot out meaningless, vacuous statements about Government incompetence with the sole purpose of getting your mug onto the 6-1 News makes a a mockery of parliamentary democracy.

[PinkoLeftie]

What items of Governmental duty were so important that none of the senior Ministers could be bothered to turn up in the Dáil today?

Morning Ireland reported that the Taoiseach and Tanaiste are attending social partnership meetings in Dublin Castle this morning. I'd imagine Michael Martin would be there also.

[revereie]

That's just not good enough, and it makes a mockery of the business of the House.

So does pretending to be in Opposition.

Care to clarify that meaningless, vacuous statement?

No clarification required.

Where is there a ranking of ministers ? I've looked at the Constitution to no avail. Additionally, Ministers Without Portfolios have often wielded huge influence at Cabinet so I'm unsure how your argument stacks up in light of ministerial responsibilities.