Will Cowen do a Reynolds with his Cabinet Appointments

[Queen Scotia]

The burning question of the day, politically, is who Brian Cowen will promote to the Cabinet. The speculation will reach fever-pitch and once he is nominated Taoiseach, for that is a formality given the Coalition's position in the Dail, it will then be that all eyes will turn to those Cowen will appoint.

If Cowen goes for a Reynolds-like cull, then Bertie Ahern won't be the only FF minister leaving the government, as reported by the Irish Independent on Wednesday. Seamus Brennan, Martin Cullen, Mary Hanafin, and Eamonn O'Cuiv could be the ones to make way, though somehow, I think Cowen will be stupid to get rid of Mary Hanafin.

If that scenario applied, I think that Batt O'Keeffe, Brendan Smith, Tom Kitt and Mary Wallace could all be confident of promotion. I think that current FF Ministers, Brian Lenihan, Mary Coughlan, Willie O'Dea, Dermot Ahern, and Noel Dempsey could expect to stay in the cabinet.

[PaintingMedium]

I wish, oh how I wish he would get rid of Hanafin!!!please please get rid of that horrible woman!

[Sidewinder]

If I was him I'd go for a massive cull. Coughlan, and possibly D. Ahern are the only two I'd put in the "automatic job" list. I'd think long and hard about keeping Dempsey, and I don't believe that Lenihan is anything but yet another blustering spoofer. The rest of them are all long overdue a forced retirement.

I'd sack Harney as well. The PDs are extinct. What are the two of them going to do, vote against an FF-led government? They're both gene-pool.

The only question is whether there is anybody at all remotely competent in the juniors or on the backbenchers to replace all the tired dead wood of the Ahern Cabinet.

[corelli]

Now that his ambition is stifiled I would not be too sure D Ahern is a shoe in. He is NOT well liked at ALL in the parlimentary party, so one is informed. I could not for the life of me understand how he thought he had a chance of running for leader.

[Amach na Casca]

Giving Harney the axe would be the wisest move. Cowen would gain huge respect from most quarters for such a measure. Martin for Finance, and Lenihan for Tanaiste both seem likely. I'd suspect a minimal enough reshuffle though from the biffo.

[MVOR]

Martin and Dempsey should be the first to go. They've made a balls of everything they've touched. A mass cull of every minister is needed but then what will replace them? Cowen would need to look to the opposition benches to find anybody with an ounce of sense.

[just_society]

The right thing to do would be a massive cull. But he must have learnt something from Albert's time in charge. Sacking 80% of ministers only led to the Drumcondra mafia waiting to trip him up, which is exactly what happened.

Best bet is to sack most of those with no future, promote those with ability, and keep a few of the challengers close to hand. Keep D Ahern, Brian Lenihan, as these have shown backbone and ability, and are possible leadership contenders. Sack Martin, Harney, and Hanafin. Brennan's also past it. Demspey and Cullen are an embarassment. That frees up seven positions.

That's what I'd do.

[Pauli]

The right thing to do would be a massive cull. But he must have learnt something from Albert's time in charge. Sacking 80% of ministers only led to the Drumcondra mafia waiting to trip him up, which is exactly what happened.

Best bet is to sack most of those with no future, promote those with ability, and keep a few of the challengers close to hand. Keep D Ahern, Brian Lenihan, as these have shown backbone and ability, and are possible leadership contenders. Sack Martin, Harney, and Hanafin. Brennan's also past it. Demspey and Cullen are an embarassment. That frees up seven positions.

That's what I'd do.

.........which should happen anyway!

Can anybody tell me why Mary Coughlan is seemingly so well thought of?? I don't remember her doing anything of note apart from bad-temperedly haranguing some farmer in expletive-deleted mode.

[just_society]

Agreed Pauli.

But FF don't exactly have form on deserved promotions or demotions now do they?

[FutureTaoiseach]

MVOR thats 11 double-posts. You don't have to shout.

If Cowen wanted to do something divisive he would have challenged Ahern for the leadership like Reynolds. I think he wants to be a unifier of his party like Ahern, but that he is to the Left of Ahern (remember if in doubt leave them out?). I think as such the ex-PD/almost-PD Cabinet members Cullen and Brennan are facing the axe. Coughlan and Lenihan should be rewarded for coming out in support for Cowen early. Lenihan will stay in Justice but become Tánaiste, while Coughlan will move to Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Brendan Smith is hotly-tipped for promotion, so he will either move to Agriculture, Tourism and Sport, or Social and Family Affairs. I expect Tom Kitt and Batt O'Keefe to fill the 2 other vacancies. Tom Kitt in particular is long overdue a promotion after 11 years and would balance the Cabinet in a more photogenic direction.