I don't find Joan Burton impressive. I think she was let down by her media performances. Not only the recent VB show but she was on that show about a year ago and he was practically begging her to say how Labour would reduce the deficit and she point blank refused to answer him. Brendan Howlin has experience as a former minister and as a negoiator. I would actually see him as a safer pair of hands.
Wouldn't consider myself her biggest fan politically, but when it comes to expertise within the Labour Party surely after 9 years as spokeperson she carries a far better CV than Brendan Howlin?
And then there's Ruairí Quinn comment that “women know more about children than men because they spend more time with them” regarding Frances Fitzgerald. As pointed out in the [broken link removed], there's more women in the teaching profession, so who got Education? Women are the primary users of health care, so who got Health? Etc, etc.
In the main I do think there are some good choices to the cabinet and junior roles, but within a few days we're facing the same old boys club as we always faced. Jobs for the boys and not jobs based on ability.
Even Lucinda Creighton gets handed a good role for Europe, a role she has experience and knowledge in, but the appointment is marred by an FG spokesperson who also has add the caveat "the party was also conscious of gender balance" on her appointment. Basically, we needed a token woman.
I don't care about gender balance I care about competency to do a role, yet both sides display the FF mentality of "scratch my back and I'll scratch yours".
And despite my first statement regarding Joan politically, she is the most competent of all her colleagues for that role and I actually think it would have been interesting if not successful her working under/alongside Noonan.
So there we are, it seems only the blokes are capable of sorting out the economic mess and the women can deal with the silly domestic stuff like kids and child benefit. I'm surprised the didn't introduce a Minister for Stick The Kettle On Love, There's A Dear And Ironing Portfolio.
Personality and media performance-wise, I would agree. However, haven't members here argued against personality politics? I have no doubt at all that she is more than competent and able to be very successful in a Finance role. Her media perfomances should not have affected this.
I don't remember Brendan Howlin facing all the media on banking and public finances.
Politics is not a meritocracy, it's a dirty business.
No-one has a right to Ministerial portfolio. Any TD should be honoured with the trust placed in them by the Taoiseach and not be showing/expressing dissatisfaction.
If, based on her background, she would be the ideal person for the portfolio given to Brendan Howlin, should we expect Dr. James Reilly to be the ideal person for the Health portfolio ? Is Jimmy Deenihan the ideal person for the Sport portfolio cos he has captained Kerry to the Sam Maguire ?
But the role isn't just public sector reform. It is ALL public expenditure so it covers more than just reforming the public sector. It runs into every department so of course she got shafted.
If, based on her background, she would be the ideal person for the portfolio given to Brendan Howlin, should we expect Dr. James Reilly to be the ideal person for the Health portfolio ? Is Jimmy Deenihan the ideal person for the Sport portfolio cos he has captained Kerry to the Sam Maguire ?
But the role is very different to her brief in opposition. It might be that when it came to appointing ministries Gilmore/Kenny just thought ther were better people suited and had to be clinical in their selection. That post is going to be very politically sensitive.
Who knows what went on behind closed doors but I don't think it was a gender issue.
Who knows what went on behind closed doors but I don't think it was a gender issue.
Talking about political reform is great but rewarding peoples loyalty or geographical location or using someones gender to balance things shows that FG and Labour are no different to FF when it comes down to it.
Loyalty and geography will always be factors for consideration, regardless of the political party. To have Joan Burton and Roisin Shortall in Cabinet when they're in neighbouring constituencies was never going to happen. And to have a second LAB woman in Cabinet would mean just 3 other seats for the Tanaiste to allocate. As it is, his choices were limited, hence getting a rural LAB TD, Willie Penrose, the 'high chair' at Cabinet.
I agree but then spare us the rubbish about real political reform and a new way of doing politics.
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