Fine Gael Frontbench Announcement LIVE

[bored and fussy]

And standing in for Enda in the Dail today , James Reilly called for the "recession" to be shorter. He thinks the Dail should reconvene before late September.

A syllable too much there , doctor.

well he's not called bottler for nothing.

[LgCastell]

I was just thinking over the past few weeks following the EK FG heave/reshuffle, impending elections and the emphasis now on dept, ministers, spokespersons etc what would be the best dept lay out for the next government.

personally i think a reshape of dept should be done....
for eg agriculture - largely controlled by europe could be merged with environment with great cooperation between the two in relation to reps, carbon etc and take planning out of this portfolio and give in solely to a junior minister with sole responsibilty for planning

also education should only have 1st and 2nd level with a dept of employment, r & d representing 3rd level and a cohesive jobs and training outfit

dept of finance unchanged

dept of public sector and local government reform - key both need major overhauls

the question arises if we should have a jnr or snr minister for banking and economic affairs just for a few years?

dept of justice could stay same dept of defense seems a waste but difficult to merge them

transport, communications social protection health foregin affairs alll ok i think

tourism sport and culture also fine

the community equality and gaeltacht shud be reformed to be community integration and equality and no need for emphasis on gaeltacht at all

just some basic ideas what to others think what is the best dept structure to maximize efficiency

[MoggyMcG]

I am told - and I need confirmation of this - that Enda is opening the Durrow (Laois) "Howya" Festival this weekend. He was chosen, I am to believe, because of the Mayo-friendly greeting of "Howya"...sometimes developed to "How's she cuttin'?" or indeed the quintessential "How's the bau-dy?"
It is nice to know that our Taoiseach-in-waiting has such an appeal among the agrarian midland classes and that, because of his pendant for malapproriatisms, he will be well welcomed in Flanagan-country. Go, Inda!