Enda Kenny's achievements

[Kf]

Ok I will lay my cards on the table. I am not voting either FF or FG as first preference in this election however I realise that one of the two will be in Govt and so I am trying to decide who I woudl prefer to be Taoiseach and will vote accordingly.

Bertie. I know and have mixed feelings on.

Enda. I think he is honest and decent. But appears somewhat contrived at times. My gut feeling is that he is.....well......a bit nothing...sort of useless.

However on a number of occasions I have asked about his 30 year career in politics and his achievements for either the Nation or just Mayo and I get responses about; Blair having no experience, how Enda won so many seats in the Euro and Local elections, how he has led the party from disaster, how great the rainbow govt in 94-97 was etc etc.

I have yet to read a post that says anything that he achieved in his department in Tourism when he was a minister, delivered anything of note to Mayo. I am not looking for a CV that reads like Kennedy or Lemass or Bevin or Kohl but there must be something he has done in 30 years that can be identified and highlighted.

Any takers??

[Munster & Proud]

As minister for trade also part of his portfolio when in Government he was responsible for the creation of 1000 jobs per week in this republic. Not a bad achievement

[L'Chaim]

Career wise he hasn't done much.....yet. What he has done is a bloody great job with the FG party. Membership has increased, party funds are up, the party are now focused. He's also united the party. All 'n' all these are some achievements. Personally I hope he's not elected taoiseach in this election, but he will be a force to be reckoned with come 2012.

[livingstone]

Chair of World Trade talks in Singapore, chair of Council of Trade Ministers meetings during Irish presidency of the EU, massive development of Irish tourism during his term as minister. His party has held power for 10 years since he's been elected and he's been a junior or senior minister for 7 1/2 years. He's also taken a party that was having its obituary written 5 years ago and against the most popular taoiseach in recent history and built it up to become a real challenger for government, smoothing over ancient divisions within the party and mobilising a huge surge in organisation and grass roots support, which doesn't count for nothing. Of course he doesn't have the experience of Bertie Ahern, but nor did Bertie Ahern against John Bruton, or Garret FitzGerald against Haughey, or Cosgrave against Lynch.

[ON THE ONE ROAD]

enda brought the tour de france to ireland

[jmcc]

I wonder will this be a very short thread?

Regards...jmcc

[jmcc]

Personally I hope he's not elected taoiseach in this election, but he will be a force to be reckoned with come 2012.

Some how he reminds me of that Major Major character from "Catch 22". Though if he fails the get elected Taoiseach in this GE, will there be a heave against him by FG during the period of the next Dail?

Regards...jmcc

[vid]

Enda has done a good job rebuilding the party since 02 but he is the least qualifed potential taoiseach in recent irish history.(at least john a costello in 48 had been a judge) No senior cabinet experience.No vision or intellectual rigour.However he is good with people and an effective mascot around the country.No wonder fine gael have richard bruton dealing with the specific policy issues.It kinda like bush (a man of limited intelligence totally dependent on his advisors)in a way and we know what a disaster he proved to be.

[irishpeoplearewhingers]

This is a bit of a slim CV, but that need not be an impediment to him being a good Taoiseach.

[Respvblica]

Enda has done a good job rebuilding the party since 02 but he is the least qualifed potential taoiseach in recent irish history.(at least john a costello in 48 had been a judge) No senior cabinet experience.No vision or intellectual rigour.However he is good with people and an effective mascot around the country.No wonder fine gael have richard bruton dealing with the specific policy issues.It kinda like bush (a man of limited intelligence totally dependent on his advisors)in a way and we know what a disaster he proved to be.

FFS comparing him to Bush now!!! Will FF just lay off a bit? I know you guys fight like weasels when you see a threat( a complement in some ways) but thats taking it too far.