According to wikipedia the phrase “curate’s egg” refers to something that is partly good and partly bad, but as a result is entirely spoiled. Modern usage has tended to change this to mean something having a mix of good and bad qualities. I am still veering between the two definitions in the context of this cabinet reshuffle.
It is possible to support a party without supporting its leadership. It is possible to support a party without supporting a government led by that party. Neither would be a normal situation but these are not normal times. I suspect there may be a number within the Fianna Fáil family falling into one or both of the above camps at present. A little like Catechism it can be argued that one is either “in or out” and that an a la carte approach is not possible. For my part I continue dining at my preferred restaurant but I do reserve right of judgement on the set menu.
Some good people were promoted yesterday and I am very plased for them. Dara Calleary, whom I know from old, is an intelligent, erudite and hard working politician. Very glad to see him moved up the chain. Pat Carey is another good performer ; a different mould but again capable and articulate – slightly surprised to see him in Gaeltacht affairs (as an urbane city gent) but like all good professionals, one must adapt and change as required. (Which incidentally, is exactly the skill our own commander in chief needs to develop.)
No problem with Tony Killeen and good to see a fellow yellow belly (Sean Connick from Wexford) move up the ranks. Batt O’Keeffee will be a safe pair of hands in enterprise and his robust approach may well bring a hardnosed effectiveness to the various negotiations involved. Bully boy tactics from Mick O’Leary and co won’t be expected cause Batt too much bother.
As for the curate’s egg… I am not about to commit complete hari kiri but .. for my liking .. very conservative… very cautious .. very late. Vacancies were filled and and a swap or two was made. It would appear minimal change was desired. Which is not what I felt was needed. I like Noel Dempsey, I like Dermot Ahern and I like Brian Lenihan (who is doing a fine job, better than many in the full of their health). But on the subject of health, there are many many Fianna Fáilers that could do at least as good if not a far better job than the independent TD from west Dublin. Likewise I would not have put the Tánaiste into Education and I would not have given the greens their power grabbing new junior. There is plenty of talent on the backbences and it appears under the current regime that is where it will stay. I would have thought this was not a time for making the minimum substitutions necessary; rather a time for throwing out the rulebook. I regret this may come to be seen as a lost opportunity up to and far beyond the next general election. Lord, help me to be hopeful.
Great post, well said.
As a fellow party member, today I am cringing for Brian Cowen. I’d gladly welcome a general election any day now!
James,
I am getting a great kick out of this piece of writing and would like to extend the metaphor to remind ourselves of the joker’s comment- you cant make an omelette without breaking some eggs.
what would the curates omelette look like or taste like?
throw ina couple of hard boiled eggs, any rotten eggs?, a lot of good eggs, a few too many green eggs replete with organic manure, some of the shells left in still… then overbake while reading the paper… eat with salt and gaviscon and wash down with tullamore dew.
what did the joker say then about an enema?
C- you’d be canvassing on your own , or not at all as the case may be.
I could write about this reshuffle all day but time is not on my side today.
It’s a huge missed opportunity to really show some strong powerful leadership within FF.
I totally agree with your point about promoting yet another Green Junior Minister – the Green’s should be aware that if an election was held tomorrow they would be wiped out. FF have plenty of really good back bench TD’s who deserve their chance.
My main issues are with the current roles of the three Mary’s – Harney, Coughlan and Hanafin.
Mary Harney has been a fantastic public representative over the years. But I feel at this stage it is time for a change. Can the government really justify having an Independent TD in one of the most important portfolios? It’s a very tough role and she deserves credit for the work done so far – but I think she’s lost the fight and spirit needed for this role.
The roles of the two remaining Mary’s really does confuse me.
Mary Coughlan has been a very ineffective Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment during a time when we needed real leadership in this area. Moving her from this department has been a good move – but to education & skills?? I would also question her role as Tanaiste. Is she really the next best person to lead the country when Brian is not around – I don’t think so. The Tanaiste should be the next person who could possibly lead the party and country. My personal choice would be Micheal Martin, second to that would be Brian Lenihan (health permitting).
I think the worse thing about this reshuffle is the demotion of Mary Hanafin – and lets not dress it up, it is a demotion. She is one of the most impressive TD’s around and unlike some of her colleagues she does not hide from the media when questions need to be answered. I was rushing around on the day of the reshuffle and heard briefly that Mary had been demoted – I instantly thought Coughlan, not Hanafin. I respect her for keeping the party line, her interview on Morning Ireland really showed this.
I will stay loyal to FF but I think this could be the slow start of the end for Brian Cowen. He has been a great TD and Minister in the past but I think his lack of cunning will be his downfall. When you look back at Charlie, Albert and Bertie, they all kept the strong TD’s close to them in order to keep an eye on them – by demoting Mary Hanafin and now by promoting a Green TD, Brian Cowen may have started a ripple effect which will end his time as leader.
Time will tell
@Des
Well if I’m canvassing alone, I’ll bring my iPod and some motivational playlists!
Who would you replace Harney with, and what would they do differently? She is implementing government policy, after all, agreed with FF and the Greens.
James, Pat Carey is a decent son of the Kingdom and so well familiar with lands beyond the Pale.
Jason is right about Harney and that’s what many FF TDs are scared they will be nailed on come the general election. The health service is the way it is not because of Mary Harney but because of government policy that each and everyone one them has supported when called upon to do so.
@Des – love the extended omelette metaphor!
@Daniel,
Consider me corrected! Apologies, had not realised Pat was of such noble stock 🙂
@Jason
Acknowledge delivery by Harney in certain areas. Ireland jumped up the league table of European health services only last year. Consultants contract was a success. The cancer strategy has paid dividends. A&E queues are not what they were despite ocassional opposition claims. Tallaght controversy poor local management (and perhaps over egged) rather than Ministerial failure (although as something of a healthcare technology expert I could propose a range of systems solutions which could be employed to address these issues, yet which do not appear to be anywhere on radar). Her presentation is poor though. Lacklustre, lethargic and lacking in enthusiasm. Appears guilty of complacency, arrogance or both. Very much a last days of the raj feel about the whole manner in which she carries out her duties. Not wishing to be overly populist but what the hell was she doing swanning around New Zealand for a fortnight? She has had some successes, but there is still work to be done, electorally as well as departmentally and she does not display an appetite for it. A fresh face needs to be put to this government and this was a ministry ripe for renewal.
Totally agree with most this James , except maybe for Mary Harney bit as I doubt any of the big names capable of doing the job would want the posion chalice of health. Disgrace though about Hanafin , she should have been given the enterprise and employment job and would be perfect for it , can’t believe coughlan is still a senior minister to be … See morehonest , junior minister or back benches material. Never agreed with Berties decision to have over reins to Cowen in first place , should have been contested , several big names would do a much better job than biffo from a leadership persective ie m martin , d ahern, n Dempsey or even m hanafin herself . Of course big Brian as natural choice if health was permitting . That’s my 59 cents worth as Kent would say!
There is a last days of the raj feeling, and the New Zealand thing is an awful visual, but I think that sort of thing is something the whole government seems incapable of grasping. Like Cowen’s dithering over expenses, the ridiculous amount of junior mins that Bertie appointed, and even the now outdated concept of sending ministers away on Paddy’s day, which, aside from Washington, is a waste of time. He does not seem to understand that politics as usual doesn’t cut it.
The demotion of Hanafin gives an indication of Cowen’s odd priorities. On Frontline, she gave a robust, well briefed and detailed defence of her policies, something many of his other ministers could not do without resorting to bluster. Yet she was demoted?
I think what must be frustrating for FF members is the fact that Cowen is losing to Inda. Inda, FFS! If FF managed to regain its bottle and reinvent itself (Like appointing a few non TD experts as junior ministers. Yes, you can actually do that.) it could still close the gap with what is still a pretty sub-par FG.