REACTION:THE CABINET reshuffle has prompted widespread discontent among Fianna Fáil TDs who complained it was a "missed opportunity", although the issue was not raised at yesterday's parliamentary party meeting.
Many deputies expressed annoyance that more new faces were not brought into Government and the reconfiguration of departments was not as extensive as they had expected, while the concession of an extra Minister of State to the Green Party caused irritation.
Some long-serving deputies traditionally loyal to Taoiseach Brian Cowen were unhappy last night. Carlow-Kilkenny TD MJ Nolan said he was “very disappointed” for voters in his constituency “who consistently supported Fianna Fáil candidates”.
The Green Party’s Mary White, from Carlow-Kilkenny, was appointed Minister of State for Equality and Integration.
Bobby Aylward, one of Mr Nolan’s Fianna Fáil colleagues in the constituency, was among those who confirmed there was disquiet on the backbenches when no Ministers were dropped, two Junior Ministers were promoted to Cabinet and four Ministers were moved to different departments.
“It was our last throw of the dice before the next general election and I think it was a missed opportunity. And I’m not happy with the fourth Minister going to the Greens, especially when they pushed for a reduction in Junior Ministers,” Mr Alyward said.
Donegal North East TD Jim McDaid said: “If you’re playing a football match and you’re away from home and you’re down one-nil, you’ve got to go on the attack. We should’ve brought in fresh faces.”
Tipperary North TD Máire Hoctor characterised the event as a “shuffle” rather than a reshuffle. “It was a great opportunity for the Taoiseach to revamp his team, and that he did not do. He played it safe . . . He dropped nobody,” she told RTÉ Radio One’s News at One.
Others expressed similar sentiments but were not willing to go on the record.
Dublin North TD Darragh O’Brien was one of the few TDs contacted by The Irish Times who spoke in favour of the reshuffle. “On balance I’ve no issue with the reshuffle. I’d actually welcome it . . . I don’t have an issue with the Greens,” he said.
All were anxious to stress they felt no antipathy towards those who were promoted. Congratulations were offered to Minister for Defence Tony Killeen, Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs Pat Carey, Government Chief Whip John Curran and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Seán Connick at the parliamentary party meeting.
Longford-Westmeath TD Mary O’Rourke spoke out against what she described as “ageism” in some media commentary referring to the age of Cabinet members. The meeting, which normally takes place on Tuesday evening but was postponed, was dominated by angry discussion about public service pay talks and the ongoing problems at the Passport Office in Dublin, with Ms Hoctor and Dublin South East TD Chris Andrews among those contributing.
