Olwyn Enright

[RobB]

With the discussion on the make up of the new FG front bench it strikes me as quite interesting that so many people are adamant that FG need to get rid of Olwyn from the front bench. Now granted i've not met her in person and can't claim to know her that well but when i have seen her she has been reasonably articulate and able to argue her point pretty well. In the run in to the election she performed quite well when debating with Mary Hanafin re education. While i admit she isn't the best performer you could have in your front bench surely there are an awful lot worse- even some of the poster boys of FG like Coveney who was woeful on a number of occasions that i have seen him and yet i've not read many say that he needs to be replaced? Is this because Olwyn is seen by many to have got in early because she is female?

[Kate P]

Olwyn has been a perfectly articulate and hopelessly uninformed spokesperson on education. Youth and good looks are on her side so I'm sure FG won't waste that opportunity.

[RobB]

I agree i think FG would be mad to get rid of Olwyn, there are much better choices for those who should be removed from the front bench and i think it should start with anyone who will not be contesting the next election

[The Earl of Desmond]

Good point about anyone not contesting the next election but that still doesn't give Olwyn any more brains - she is a bit of a bimbo to be frank. She's had five years to hone her craft and avial of all the media lessons etc but it still doesn't make any difference.

[Kate P]

Charlie Flanagan won't want to be out in the cold so someone will have to make room for him. Sadly.

I heard Fionan Sheehan on the radio over the weekend saying that the poor quality of FG's front bench was a contributer in losing the election. FG could put forward credible leadership - but not necessarily a credible or recognisable government.

One of FG's key missions must be to build the profile of its high ranking spokespeople. Therein lies a big challenge.

[The Earl of Desmond]

Good point Kate - they need to step up a gear or two and match Ministers one for one now and also get professional media training done.

[RobB]

Do you want to point out how Olwyn is a bimbo? I've never listened to her thinking god what a stupid woman- she is sometimes a little hesitant when she begins to argue her point but that aside if she were male would you be pushing for her to be removed as much.Olwyn is one of the few identifiable faces in the FG front bench who has at least come to the attention of the general public. I mean are you seriously suggesting Olwyn is less intelligent and more to the point a worse spokeperson than than Jim O Keefe? Phil Hogan? Bernard Durkan?

[Kate P]

Olwyn might have put a pretty face on FG education but she really hadn't a clue. I worked in education for a long time and she really had no grasp of the issues or the intricacies. Mary Hanafin was a teacher and as a former teacher myself, I'd have great faith in her.

As Minister for Education Olwyn Enright would be a disaster. But maybe her strengths might lie in other areas and I wouldn't write her off completely. She is able, but, as I said in a previous post, was uninformed about education.

[The Earl of Desmond]

Yes I would there are plenty of himbos in FG too. KEnny is one but at least he knows his weaknesses and has a strong team close to him for the technical stuff while Kenny focuses on what he does well such as the organisation and motivation while Bruton does the policy wonk stuff. Bruton would never have motivated thep arty the way Kenny did and Kenny would never have reviewed policy the way Bruton did. They complement each other perfectly.

Enright has been education person for 5 years and I can't think of anything she did or any policy change.

Jim O'Keefe Phil Hogan and Bernard Durkin are all dreadful too.

[RobB]

Well that's fair enough i suppose but after you have removed all of these who exactly is there left to be in the front bench? Do you not have to accept that not every person on gthe front bench is going to be a star performer?