Cabinet reshuffle: The Government's determination to break up Aer Rianta and open Dublin Bus up to competition will continue, despite the removal of Mr Séamus Brennan as minister for transport, the Taoiseach has indicated.
Responding to questions in Dublin Castle yesterday about the Cabinet reshuffle, the Taoiseach said "the big thing" is the policy the Government is "trying to achieve, not so much the individual" trying to bring it about.
Emphasising that the Government will stand by existing policies, Mr Ahern said it was trying "to give positive and efficient transport infrastructure" at airports, ferry ports and roads.
Progress in transport has always been difficult and slow, he said, pointing out that it took 25 years to get one-person buses accepted by CIE trade unions.
"If we are to listen to the naysayers, this country would not move at all. All of these things are battles. You either decide that you are going to do something, or you sit on the fence and you do nothing. I just need energetic individuals to do things.
"Séamus did that for 2½ years. Now Martin \ is going to do that," said Mr Ahern, though Mr Brennan remains clearly unhappy that he has been moved.
Earlier, Mr Ahern had firmly rejected charges from the leader of the Socialist Party, Mr Joe Higgins, that the Government has agreed with the ambitions of Aer Lingus management to sell off the airline. "There has been no decision to privatise, sell or change regarding the issue raised. I said that any legislation in this regard will be brought before the House, but there is no decision to do any of these things," Mr Ahern told the Dáil.
Rejecting claims that Mr Brennan had been moved from the Department of Transport because of his clashes with transport unions, or demoted, Mr Ahern added: "I consider every job in the Cabinet important.
"I don't think there is any job that's not important. It's a big responsibility and not always a nice responsibility, but you have to pick people who will do a good job in whatever area . . . You never feel you have the perfect team, obviously," he told reporters at a conference on Positive Ageing at Dublin Castle yesterday.
In a separate development, Mr Ahern confirmed that Dr Jim McDaid was sacked as Minister of State, having told the Dáil on Wednesday that he had accepted Dr McDaid's "resignation".
Asked whether Dr McDaid was lying when he had said he was sacked, the Taoiseach replied: "No. Unfortunately, I asked him for his resignation. That's correct."