Liam Reidlooks at the reorganisation of Government departments Departments
The changes to the organisation of Government departments announced yesterday by the Taoiseach were much more modest than had been expected.
A more radical reorganisation was anticipated, and the lengthy negotiations earlier this week on the issue of jobs between the Greens and Fianna Fáil suggested that major changes would be on the way.
According to well-placed sources the negotiations on ministerial posts had still not concluded by the time the Green Party special conference began at 1pm on Wednesday.
It is believed that Fianna Fáil had been aiming for significant changes to some portfolios, prompted in no small part by a desire to ensure that key areas remained within their remit and out of the grasp of the Greens.
It is a considerable coup for the Greens to have ensured that both Energy and the Environment portfolios they have received are relatively unscathed.
Ultimately they have control of some pivotal policy areas, including local government, energy policy and climate change.
The changes announced are modest in comparison to the wholesale reorganisation announced in 2002. That year saw the creation of a new Department of Transport. Horse-racing was moved from its traditional home in Agriculture to Sport. Arts was amalgamated with Sport and Tourism, and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was effectively dismantled in favour of the creation of a Department of Gaeltacht, Rural and Community Affairs.
In 2007 there are just two significant changes. The Department of Energy, Communications and Natural Resources (formerly known as Communications, Marine and Natural Resources) has lost its responsibility for fisheries and maritime issues.
The fisheries aspect has been switched to Agriculture, while other marine issues have gone to the Department of Transport. The Green Party's position on the need to preserve fish stocks could have put them in direct conflict with fishing interests, had Marine been retained under their control.
The change can be seen as suiting both parties. In addition it can be argued that the department with responsibility for energy and natural resources is not the natural home for marine.
Non-national roads has also been taken from the Department of the Environment and transferred to Transport, again a more natural home perhaps than Environment.
However, the underlying reason for the move is more likely to be the fact that the non-national roads programme amounts to an annual Santa sack for local TDs seeking projects in their constituencies.
It is the changes that have not taken place that are more interesting, and effectively place the Green Party in a strong position to implement policy on its core issues.
It is believed that Fianna Fáil was originally offering a denuded Department of the Environment, which would not only have been stripped of non-national roads, but would have lost control of local government.
This is an extremely valuable section for any party, with any number of annual funding announcements - from fire stations to recycling facilities - which is an asset to any large party hoping to keep local TDs happy.
In addition, the Greens control of local government will cause unease among Fianna Fáil's grassroots councillors, something party chiefs would have preferred to avoid.
When negotiations began on ministerial responsibilities, Fianna Fáil was initially reluctant to give two cabinet seats. Instead it was offering a "super junior" role with responsibility for climate change.
This would have given the Greens control of half of one section of one department.
In the end they succeeded in getting the Department of Energy and Communications, ensuring control of the Government's energy policy, one of the biggest issues facing the incoming coalition.
In addition the Greens will, in effect, have responsibility for the largest semi-State company in the country, the ESB, and the major reforms planned for the electricity market.