Whatever about new politics in the way the Dáil conducts its business, the appointment of ministers of state, party spokesmen and committee chairmen operates to a traditional drum beat – loyalty; geographic location, experience and ability.
Public dissent and overweening personal ambition unsettle party leaders but constituency and party considerations may temper their disapproval. That is because old politics and a belief by voters that ministers and rising politicians will ‘deliver’ for their constituencies, is alive and active.
Balancing party advantage with local demands is a tricky exercise when the number of jobs available is limited. Enda Kenny has taken his lead from Bertie Ahern who addressed that difficulty in government by increasing the number of ministers of state from 15 to 20 and by establishing additional committees.
Back then, it was an unashamed ‘jobs for the boys’ approach. So it is today. As a commitment to political reform and value for money, the last government reduced the number of junior ministers to 15.
Under pressure from his party, the Taoiseach has hiked the number to 18 and appointed four women out of eighteen positions. Now that the Troika has left and memory of the recession is dimming, the old ways are resurfacing. These positions – ministers of state and committee chairmen – attract generous remuneration while offering the prospect of further political advancement.
Opposition party leaders face no such constraints and the size of their front benches frequently reflect party ambitions. Micheál Martin appointed 22 front bench spokesmen, out of an available pool of 43 TDs. That decision may cause future problems within Fianna Fáil if ambitions are dashed.
But, as with Fine Gael, its all about the short-term; about "marking" political opponents and defending constituency turf. A whiff of vengeance and retaliation by party leaders for hurtful criticisms is clearly designed to encourage internal discipline. Fine Gael's John Deasy of Waterford will understand, if not appreciate, that aspect. So will John McGuinness of Fianna Fáil.