A chara, – Those media pundits who had tipped Mary Hanafin for a promotion to a major economic department on account of her ability, work rate and articulacy had it almost right. Unfortunately for her, the quality Brian Cowen values most is loyalty from the lads, and Ms Hanafin just isn’t in his club.
Her blatant demotion to Tourism, Culture and Sport was the lowlight of a dismal reshuffle, utterly devoid of leadership or inspiration.
His mates rewarded, enemies put in their place, opportunities wasted, minimal impact, maximum boredom: the hallmarks of his career and a fitting end to the last Cabinet he’ll ever lead. – Is mise,
Madam, – One would have to sympathise with Brian Cowen, in the reshuffling of his pack. He probably thought he had an ace or two up his sleeve, yet ended up with the look of a busted flush!
A fresh pack and new dealers, please. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – So the Department of Education and Science is to become the Department of Education and Skills. Another case of educational “dumbing down”? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – How much money is going to be wasted in the coming weeks redesigning logos, correcting websites and changing stationery in our renamed government departments? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The parochial nature of the Cabinet reshuffle, and the mindset of those involved was epitomised by the comments of the new Minister of State for Fisheries and Forestry, Seán Connick. “I live . . . on the border of Kilkenny, Waterford and Carlow, so ideally strategically placed . . . So I’m looking forward to working with the people in the region” (Cabinet Reshuffle, March 24th). What about the rest of us? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I am not a supporter of any political party and I found it quite amazing how inept the present Government is. There appears to be a genuine lack of vision, and the reshuffle is more to do with Brian Cowen protecting his position than an attempt to achieve genuine renewal and change.
Mr Cowen was strong on explaining the need to reshape the Cabinet to bring the country forward, but failed to offer any genuine or clear prescription on how this will be achieved. Without this, there cannot be any genuine or fundamental change in the drastic situation we find ourselves in. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Surely it’s time for a Minister for Hardship? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – So much for the thousands of jobs promised in the “Greening of the Economy”. One extra Green job was created in the Government reshuffle, very much “jobs for the boys”, but not much consolation for hundreds of thousands unemployed. – Yours, etc,