Fine Gael appoint economic advisor

[rockofcashel]

You seriously think any of the current ministers (with the exception of McDowell in Justice) had any real expertise in their respective areas before being appointed, sufficient to make confident policy decisions?

Some of them do...but thats not really my point. Its fine if McDowell was an adviser to Bruton (as spokesperson on Finance) but he aint, he's advisor to 'the leader and parliamentary party', surely this should be Brutons job along with his advisors.
Also, many in FG have made much of the fact that Bruton is an economist yada yada yada...if he is so clever at his profession allied with obvious political savvy, why is he effectivally being sidlined ?

Oh, and don't forget, he went to Cambridge .. or Oxford (Bruton)

[CrockerJarman]

This doesn’t express much confidence in the much vaunted economic prowess of Dicky Bruton.
It pretty much makes Bruton a lame-duck as spokesperson on finance if most of the decision making on party policy is taken by McDowell.
Of course the FG spin is that McDowell is ‘supporting’ Bruton and the leadership – still, they obviously felt some heavyweight was needed to bring a scintilla of credibility.

Eh?

[farnaby]

You seriously think any of the current ministers (with the exception of McDowell in Justice) had any real expertise in their respective areas before being appointed, sufficient to make confident policy decisions?

Some of them do...but thats not really my point. Its fine if McDowell was an adviser to Bruton (as spokesperson on Finance) but he aint, he's advisor to 'the leader and parliamentary party', surely this should be Brutons job along with his advisors.
Also, many in FG have made much of the fact that Bruton is an economist yada yada yada...if he is so clever at his profession allied with obvious political savvy, why is he effectivally being sidlined ?

Oh, and don't forget, he went to Cambridge .. or Oxford (Bruton)

Why, what's the SF position on Irish people choosing to go to Oxbridge?

[Dee Four]

You seriously think any of the current ministers (with the exception of McDowell in Justice) had any real expertise in their respective areas before being appointed, sufficient to make confident policy decisions?

Some of them do...but thats not really my point. Its fine if McDowell was an adviser to Bruton (as spokesperson on Finance) but he aint, he's advisor to 'the leader and parliamentary party', surely this should be Brutons job along with his advisors.
Also, many in FG have made much of the fact that Bruton is an economist yada yada yada...if he is so clever at his profession allied with obvious political savvy, why is he effectivally being sidlined ?

ffs, FG are allowed to have more than one person who knows about economics contributing to the party. FG can only be bolstered by employing more people of talent (don't know anything about McDowell so I don't know if he fits into this category) so just give up your petty and mean-spirited attacks.

[eurocrat]

you mean the one that promised a flat tax, that was hardly wise.

Yes. Except he didn't 'promise' anything. He couldn't as a mere adviser. As far as I remember he simply mooted the idea (Economists love mooting things) and the opposition were able to poune on it. Thats why you need to be careful with economic advisers.

Barbarian, you can harldy fault FG for enlisting in the help of experts to help form policy. I think it reflects well on Richard Bruton that he is prepared to consult with others on economic policy.

[Gladstone]

You seriously think any of the current ministers (with the exception of McDowell in Justice) had any real expertise in their respective areas before being appointed, sufficient to make confident policy decisions?

Coughlan has a degree in Social Science, half of which is Social Policy so was ideally suited to Social Affairs...then Bertie moved her to Agriculture

************************************g Egit, the same egit who put Cullen in Transport after the evoting fiasco he created in Enviornment

[Barbarian]

Barbarian, you can harldy fault FG for enlisting in the help of experts to help form policy. I think it reflects well on Richard Bruton that he is prepared to consult with others on economic policy.

Guys, ye can't really blame me for stirring the pot a little here
I just thought it was an odd way to present McDowell as adviser to the party on economic matters - surely he would be better styled as an adviser to the spokesperson on finance, who would then be the one responsible for party economic policy (who do journo’s now go to for party economic policy, McDowell or Bruton?) Smoke and mirrors maybe...but a point nonetheless.

[KingKane]

Barbarian, you can harldy fault FG for enlisting in the help of experts to help form policy. I think it reflects well on Richard Bruton that he is prepared to consult with others on economic policy.

Guys, ye can't really blame me for stirring the pot a little here
I just thought it was an odd way to present McDowell as adviser to the party on economic matters - surely he would be better styled as an adviser to the spokesperson on finance, who would then be the one responsible for party economic policy (who do journo’s now go to for party economic policy, McDowell or Bruton?) Smoke and mirrors maybe...but a point nonetheless.

Hardly much of a point really, given that we have an election coming up it is not likely that Richard is going to be able to campaign in his own constituency, while fulfilling his duties as deputy leader and finance spokesperson and also be the economic advisor to the front bench and the rest of the parliamentary team. I'm not suggesting that the rest of the members of the front bench can't add but there is more to economics than long muplication will get you through. Makes sense to have an inhouse resource to go to with policies that might have an economic impact.