Fine Gael appoint economic advisor

[David Cochrane]

Forfas Chief Economist Andrew McDowell has been appointed Fine Gael economic advisor, he'll take up the post in December.

He has been tasked with supporting the Party Leader, Front Bench and Parliamentary Party in developing and setting out the Party’s economic policy.

[President Bartlet]

Is this FG finally getting serious?
Will he have to work with Rabbitte et al aswell?

[jady88]

Ha with this New Labour coalition the most we can hope for is "keep things going the same" from this group of fools...

[eurocrat]

They will have to be carefull here. Economists tend to be politically unsavy. What they say is what they believe, which is generally a bad idea in politics.

The German CDU got in trouble in the last GE when one of thier economic advisrs started talking about reforms which, while were economically sensible, were politcally unwise.

[Gladstone]

They will have to be carefull here. Economists tend to be politically unsavy. What they say is what they believe, which is generally a bad idea in politics.

The German CDU got in trouble in the last GE when one of thier economic advisrs started talking about reforms which, while were economically sensible, were politcally unwise.

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

[Barbarian]

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.

[farnaby]

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.

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? Have you forgotten the amount being spent on faceless consultants by this government to make decisions for them?

I support this kind of appointment and parties should do it in every area - name the front bench, name the advisors, show the public the team that will make decisions in each area of governance to allow us to judge and vote on the areas most important to us - rather than the current farce of ministerial reshuffles based on favours, and elections reduced to poster battles featuring the faces of the prospective Taoisigh.

[Barbarian]

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 ?

[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 ?

Finance does not equal economics - there is no 'department for the economy' in government because economic policy is a factor in every other department. Bruton's economic abilities are of benefit to his specific role regarding Finance - no-one ever said he would be chief economist for FG. Perhaps you're right that there will be competing economic views and internal conflicts within the party, if so file under 'healthy competition' and 'encouraging diversity'!

[hiding behind a poster]

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.

Thats fairly ridiculous, Barbarian. FG are competing with a government who has advisors in every department, all paid for by the taxpayer, to advise ministers. Also, you suggest that most of the decision-making will be done by McDowell. Where does it say that? He's a advisor, for God's sake.