BERTIE Ahern has opted for caution and maximum cohesion in the creation of his Cabinet. But, in trying to please everyone, he has created some labyrinthine, unstable structures and possible future difficulties.

In the heat of government formation, however, it seemed the Fianna Fail leader had scooped the pool: pleasing some without seriously antagonising others and emerging from the Dail vote for Taoiseach with the victor's laurel wreath.

The newly elected Taoiseach was all bonhomie as he looked to the future of his minority Coalition Government, reminded the opposition that they were all politicians together, and spoke of the need to pull together in the national interest.

He was particularly gracious to John Bruton. Thanking the outgoing - Taoiseach for the courtesies he had been extended in opposition, he hoped they could continue in the same spirit.

But the good natured atmosphere which prevailed as the rainbow coalition gave way to a Fianna Fail/Progressive Democrats Government didn't last. Mr Ahern's recasting of departmental responsibilities was rejected as cosmetic and, in some cases, was said to be seriously flawed and downright unconstitutional.

The dual role of David Andrews as Minister For Defence and assistant to Ray Burke at the Department of Foreign Affairs drew particular Fire.

Mr Bruton thought it was a big mistake. Dick Spring believed it was unconstitutional and would at least require legislation to amend the Ministers and Secretaries Act.

Apart altogether from the technical and legal aspects of the appointments, the notion of Mr Burke and Mr Andrews working in harmony - as equals - within the Department of Foreign Affairs stretched credulity, especially as Mr Andrews is to move to a special office and take an unquantified amount of responsibility For European and Northern Ireland affairs.

Shifting other responsibilities between Departments came in for expected criticisms. But Mr Spring was particularly exercised by the decision to shunt the Department of Equality and Law Reform into the cloying embrace of the Department of Justice.

Such a move would end any commitment to provide for the rights of disabled people, he said, as John O'Donoghue's priorities in the Department of Justice would not embrace equality legislation.

When the names of the new Ministers were read into the record of the Dail, there were few surprises and not a single first election face.

Fight Cabinet members had previous experience at the highest level: Mr Ahern, Mary O'Rourke, Ray Burke, Michael Woods, Brian Cowen, Charlie McCreevy, David Andrews and Joe Walsh.

Four had served as Ministers of State: Mary Harney, Dermot Ahern, John O'Donoghue and Noel Dempsey. And there were three new faces: Micheal Martin, Sile de Valera and Jim McDaid.

The appointments reflected a definite shift in political influence towards Leinster, where five Ministers were drawn from 38 Dail places. Dublin returned five Ministers from 47 seats and Munster came just behind with four Ministers from 47 seats. But Connacht Ulster suffered a collapse of its long term Fianna Fail influence when a single Minister was drawn from 33 seats.

THE success of governments is not, however, predicated on geographic spread. And Mr Ahern will no doubt appoint some Ministers of State From the West next week.

Apart from Mr Ahern's own key position as facilitator and compromiser, the particular flavour and edge of this Government will be provided by the Departments of Finance, Foreign Affairs and Justice.

In the first, Charlie McCreevy has been given the unpopular perhaps impossible task of holding the Government's current spending increase at 4 per cent for 1998, when official projections already estimate the increase at close to 5 per cent.

The cutbacks required, at a time of raid economic growth, will prove particularly difficult. And the rainbow parties are already preparing to put in the boot.

Yesterday Mr Bruton, Mr Spring and Proinsias De Rossa identified the tax cutting policies of the new. Government as a recipe for creating an even more unequal society, and were calling for change.

The appointment of Mr Burke to Foreign Affairs will send a very tough, uncompromising message to the republican movement. Mr Burke would not be Sinn Fein's choice as Minister and joint chairman of the Anglo Irish Conference, with its key role in the Northern Ireland peace process. His hard line on paramilitary violence is well known.

In those circumstances, it is a pity that the message has been diffused by the controversial appointment of Mr Andrews as special helper. The move to console Mr Andrews with added responsibilities on the European and Northern Ireland front does not, however, suggest any vacillation in the Government's attitude towards politically inspired violence.

Mr O'Donoghue's appointment as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform commits the Government even more firmly to the concept of zero tolerance. As the party spokesman on justice, he helped to oust Fine Gael as the recognised party of law and order in this State, and is now in the hot seat. The position is unlikely to cool down in the short term, as the opposition parties call on Mr O'Donoghue to deliver on his high flown, preelection rhetoric.

Some of the other key appointments had been flagged in advance and, in most cases, the new Ministers are unlikely to embark on major changes in policy direction.

A wily facilitator and wheeler dealer, Mr Ahern knows the ropes and represents the single most important asset of the new Coalition.

He will need all his considerable skills in the years ahead.