Least effective minister of 2011

[Alfie's Sock]

This thread isn't about the most likable minister.

Shatter is the one minister that has not been in hiding since he got the job. He's killed a few sacred cows, and ran over a few kittens. Just what is required. He won't get everything right, but he'll do a decent job.

The aim should be to reduce costs, not settle old scores on issues that the public do not care about. And it is no surprise that Alan Shatter of Gallagher Shatter has failed to do anything of significance that shall reduce the fees that solicitors can charge.

Praise him if he reduces costs to litigants and delay in the Courts. Do not praise him for insulting and irritating every person he deals with, or for emasculating the bar for having mocked his pretensions for decades. The sacred cow of solicitor's instruction fees implacidly chews her cud still, protected by the virtiolic Shatter. That is a scandal - most particularly in family law, where profit is gained from the client's misery and the State shall earn 23% on the solicitor's greed...

[dent]

Are you seriously suggesting that Fianna Fail were thinkers?

Tinkers, he meant.

[uriah]

Enda Kenny on Morning Ireland says he will review ministers in March. So what will he find?

Least VISIBLE minister has been Deenihan followed closely by Frances Fitzgerald. He was in the background when QEII visited and was in the press a few weeks ago launching his book. Nothing else.

Reilly has to get a mention for the mishandling of the closure of Roscommon A and E

If ministers are constantly on the radio/t.v., pictured in the newspapers, (e.g. 'visible') they are not working in their departments.
(I acknowledge that media appearances are sometimes a part of the job)
Absence from the media is not an indication of idleness - I would consider it to be the opposite.

[Toman13]

Creighton. She is completely irritating, in her views of the EU and her unwillingness to step up to it.

[The Cat]

Enda Kenny Taoiseach - The Danial O'Donnell of politics. Nice guy, but speech to the nation on eve of budget was a flop.

Eamon Gilmore Tánaiste & Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade - Too early to say. Irelands reputation has improved this year, we have made significant progress on reducing debt burden.

Michael Noonan Finance - In a difficult job he has steadied the ship.

Ruairí Quinn Education & Skills The star of the cabinet. Well on the way to delivering a better education system.

Brendan Howlin Public Expenditure & Reform Too early to judge. The objective has to be productivity, better results for less cost. If he can do this in collaboration with the public service it will be quite an achievement. Some would prefer to see conflict, I don't agree.

Richard Bruton Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Too early to judge. Appears more competent than his predecessor which is the minimum requirement. I am not convinced he understands job creation though.

Joan Burton Social Protection Toughest job in the cabinet, overall doing very well. Big blunder was the on/off cut to disabuility for minors. Right decision, badly handled. Will be more difficult to do in future.

Jimmy Deenihan Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht I haven't got a clue what he is doing, not sure he does.

Pat Rabbitte Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Clever man, listening too much to his advisors regarding exploration licensing. Should be addressing RTE license and how it is squandered. So far OK

Phil Hogan Environment, Community and Local Government Very clear about what he is doing. An easy target for "septic tank politicians" but is winning the arguement.

Alan Shatter Justice and Equality and Defence Lost the run of himself during the referendum. Don't know yet if he is doing well.

Simon Coveney Agriculture, Food and the Marine Fisheries worked out well, did he do well or was it going to happen anyway?

Frances Fitzgerald Children and Youth Affairs No view

James Reilly Health Too cavalier. Now he is saying how well the health service has progressed in the last 10 years, having spent years giving out about it going backwards. It is a very difficult job, it will be years before we can judge how well he has done.

Leo Varadkar Transport, Tourism and Sport The ultimate muppet. If his feet were any bigger he would choke himself.