GLASSES glinting, Niamh Bhreathnach holds the floor of the Dail with solid if uninspiring authority. She is a battler a tireless worker a minister of ordinary talents who has done exceptional things in education.
A remedial teacher who came late to politics, she is not a media performer. But the changes she has secured over four years in this minefield of interests through extensive consultations, compromises, political single mindedness and bags of money have revolutionised the education system.
Ms Breathnach cut her political teeth during savage in fighting for control of the Labour Party less than 10 years ago. In 1989 as Dick Spring's anointed, she represented moderate elements and defeated Emmett Stagg for the vice chairmanship of the party. When the position of chairman became vacant in 1991, she repeated the exercise. She was not even a councillor at the time. In 1992, with the wind behind her, she took a dodgy Labour Party seat in Dun Laoghaire on the first count.
The relationship forged with Mr Spring during those years helped to make Ms Breathnach only the fifth TD to be immediately appointed minister, and with an extensive reform programme on hand, she got stuck in. A National Convention on Education was, called for Dublin Castle the process of creating overlapping partnerships, where central, controls had existed, was begun. Parents were empowered the roles of churches, teachers and the Department were reviewed and money flowed towards the disadvantaged.
When Ruairi Quinn took charge of the purse strings the flow of finance became a flood. Educational disadvantage was officially recognised as an agent of unemployment and crime. In four years, spending on primary education increased by 60 per cent an early start, preschool system was introduced, along with a "breaking the cycle" initiative in deprived areas. Expansion of RTCs went hand in hand with rapid economic growth. Third level fees were abolished.
Confrontation with individual bishops on school matters was never allowed to flare into open warfare with the Catholic Hierarchy. And relations with minority churches were also marked by judicious fudges and concessions. The State edged closer to centre stage.
Ms Breathnach has presided over more contentious reforms than the great bulk of her predecessors and has still managed to keep her head. There are echoes of Gemma Hussey's righteous determination in her approach, but she has avoided most pitfalls. And, in recent times, she has applied the dripping sarcasm of Mary O'Rourke "a silly question" in putting down male opponents in the Dail.
Flamboyant she is not. The first Labour Party Minister for Education rarely breaks through the cool reserve which separates her from journalists. There is little or no glad handing and, it would seem, she sees political strokes as things pulled by other people. Her Government colleagues have reason to complain that politically sensitive announcements are sometimes made without consultation.
Single minded about education reform, to the point of being threatened by tunnel vision, Ms Breathnach gets things done.