Cabinet reshuffle after O'Dea/Cullen ?

[Indy-pendant]

Why is that relevant?

Hey, I'm not saying it should be relevant, but I'm saying that it absolutely is relevant. Apart from anything else, there's the perception that they can 'do things' for their constituency if they're at the cabinet table...

If nothing else, they'll be the one issuing press releases about funding being given for something on their patch - not the Minister from whose dept. the funding is coming - with an eye to the next election at all times, of course.

In Ó Cuiv's case, if you follow the money / decentralisation / etc. you can't help but see that Galway isn't exactly left out in the cold. Heck, I'll bet my house on a Press Release being on his site re. the Volvo Ocean race ! It's that lethal mix of shpin...and clientalism.

[LDF]

Coughlan will remain on as Tanaiste but I think she will change portfolio. She may move to social welfare.

Hanifan may get the economic planning gig and callery is a good bet for the super junior on public sector reform. My impression is that whoever gets this job will be working closely with the Taoiseach - the office may be located in the Dept of Taoiseach. I'm not sure how Finance will react to this.

I don't think there will be many new faces at Cabinet. Cowen will use the reorganisation of the departments as a fig leaf for a radicalism that won't be there.

It will be interesting to see how the public sector unions respond to a reorganisation of departments. Will they co-operate with it and how much damage can they do if they don't?

Some support for my theory that Hanifan is in line for a promotion. Article from yesterdays Tribune attached


Hanafin tipped for job in critical new department

[Tomas Mor]

Will O Cuiv be kept on. I expect he will despite being useless apart from fact that he is Dev lookalike and for the past few hyears was in charge of the Deontas dept which wrote cheues for every fad of his. He is also fanatical, Irish only names in places supposed to be Gaeltacht, but where English is everyday language. Spells his names with bastardised Irish - O Cuiv when it should be O Caoimh as other members of his family do, including an uncle Judge. V does not exist in Irish dictionary only as an emergency borrowed letter, or in maths etc. Also he would be a dangerous animal for Biffo to have on backbenches, he would foment trouble !

[LDF]

Will O Cuiv be kept on. I expect he will despite being useless apart from fact that he is Dev lookalike and for the past few hyears was in charge of the Deontas dept which wrote cheues for every fad of his. He is also fanatical, Irish only names in places supposed to be Gaeltacht, but where English is everyday language. Spells his names with bastardised Irish - O Cuiv when it should be O Caoimh as other members of his family do, including an uncle Judge. V does not exist in Irish dictionary only as an emergency borrowed letter, or in maths etc. Also he would be a dangerous animal for Biffo to have on backbenches, he would foment trouble !

I think he'll be sacked. He don't think he has much of a support base in the party and he doesn't give the impression that he'd fight back against any demotion. The only reason to keep him on would be to ensure the West has a Minister at the Cabinet table. That reason disappears if Killeen gets Defense and Callery get the super junior for PS reform.

O'Cuiv hasn't done much wrong but he could be sacrificied to put some gloss on a reshuffle which is beginning to look like a necessary replacement of the sick and lame rather than a radical shift in govt thinking.

[Baron von Biffo]

Will O Cuiv be kept on. I expect he will despite being useless apart from fact that he is Dev lookalike and for the past few hyears was in charge of the Deontas dept which wrote cheues for every fad of his. He is also fanatical, Irish only names in places supposed to be Gaeltacht, but where English is everyday language. Spells his names with bastardised Irish - O Cuiv when it should be O Caoimh as other members of his family do, including an uncle Judge. V does not exist in Irish dictionary only as an emergency borrowed letter, or in maths etc. Also he would be a dangerous animal for Biffo to have on backbenches, he would foment trouble !

That 'V' always looks odd. The first place I saw it in 'Irish' was on election posters telling me to 'Votail' for someone or other.

[L.O. Dublin S.C.]

It might be politically astute for FF to do all its necessary bloodletting now when it has the chance. This would mean Coughlan being moved sideways, Harney being retired/removed. A few others could be demoted in the process.

Regards...jmcc

Coughlan will go down the pecking order in ministries but will still be Táinste. Harney will stay where she is until the next General Election. She has no such loyality to Cowen.

[Old Tom Frost]

I think he'll be sacked. He don't think he has much of a support base in the party and he doesn't give the impression that he'd fight back against any demotion. The only reason to keep him on would be to ensure the West has a Minister at the Cabinet table. That reason disappears if Killeen gets Defense and Callery get the super junior for PS reform.

O'Cuiv hasn't done much wrong but he could be sacrificied to put some gloss on a reshuffle which is beginning to look like a necessary replacement of the sick and lame rather than a radical shift in govt thinking.

On the assumption that Craggy is finally going to be broken up the question is where to put O'Cuiv? (assuming the Biff is not inclined to demote him). Unless he was to be appointed to Defence, as one previous poster suggested, it is difficult to see what other portfolio he could be "safely" given.

Brendan Smith, the anonymous Minister for Agriculture is also someone who could be in the firing line if our beloved leader ever manages to find his balls and makes some radical decisions......

[petervalhala]

Some support for my theory that Hanifan is in line for a promotion. Article from yesterdays Tribune attached


Hanafin tipped for job in critical new department

She would be a logical choice in light of her good performance in Social and Family Affairs

[cyberianpan]

All sources saying reshuffle is next week - and Coughlan looks likely to lose responsibility

Government plans reform of Coughlan's department - The Irish Times - Tue, Mar 16, 2010

Though I'm not sure about moving Fás... a failed agency, away from the IDA (successful) and Enterprise Ireland (some successful aspects).

cYp

[cyberianpan]

More news on this week's coming reshuffle:

Reshuffle boosts Conor Lenihan - Times Online

Conor Lenihan and Dara Calleary have emerged as contenders for promotion this week in the taoiseach’s long-awaited cabinet reshuffle. Tony Killeen, a Clare TD, is favourite to replace Willie O’Dea, the former defence minister from neighbouring Limerick East, who resigned last month.

cYp