With the legacy being debated, Bertie Ahern’s chosen successor has become the leader in waiting. Brian Cowen now has less than a month to decide how best to fashion the future cabinet in his visage. For my two cents, here’s what I’d do, if I were the man who caused 3 days of vote-transfer in the 2007 General Election:
Taoiseach: Brian Cowen
Tánaiste: Brian Lenihan
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food: Billy Kelliher
Minister for Arts, Sports & Tourism: Trevor Sargent
*Minister for Communications & Technology: Conor Lenihan
Minister for Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs: Eamon Ó Cuív
Minister for Defence: Willie O’Dea
Minister for Education & Science: Mary Hanifin
Minister for Energy & Natural Resources: Eamonn Ryan
Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment: Micheál Martin
Minister for the Environment & Local Government: John Gormley
Minister for Finance: Brian Lenihan
Minister for Foreign Affairs: Dermot Ahern
*Minister for Heritage & Culture: Seán Haughey
**Minister for Health & Children: Dr. James Reilly
Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform: Mary Couglan
Minister for Social & Family Affairs: Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher
Minister for Transport & the Marine: Noel Dempsey
* New Portfolios
** Crossing the floor to poach from Fine Gael
I propose two new portfolios for the Government. These limit the powers of conflict from the Green Party and gives them a third Portfolio to soften the blow. Those losing out include: Séamus Brennan, Mary Harney and Martin Cullen. (Expect offers of Junior Ministries for Mary Harney if she doesn’t reisgn, and an offer to join Fianna Fáil to Noel Grealish.)
diarmy
April 8th, 2008 at 14:17
That’s ‘Cowen’.
April 9th, 2008 at 14:53
Thanks for that Gavin… made the change.
April 13th, 2008 at 13:04
Nice cabinet though impossible under the constitution. To quote article 28.1
“The Government shall consist of not less than seven and not more than fifteen members”
April 13th, 2008 at 14:09
Well spotted Stephen. Although this could indeed be altered by constitutional referrendum.
I personally think the people of Ireland would approve a cabinet ministry for the Communications and Technology post. This is too important to have lumped in with Energy and Natural Resources in my opinion, and far more important to have the Greens looking after it.
April 13th, 2008 at 14:22
I agree diarmy it there should be a cabinet ministry for that. Pity the constitution does place such a restriction on the number of Ministries. Maybe the upper limit should be changed as things have changed since 1937.
And i certainly agree that the Greens should not be looking after it! Its bad enough they have environment!