At first glance, the Taoiseach was uncharacteristically courageous in the appointment of his new Cabinet. Armed with the authority of leading the first Coalition Government in the history of the State back into office with a substantial majority, he had won the mandate to sack and shuffle at will. He dropped four Ministers and, by all accounts, was pulled back from the brink of dispensing with two more. The defeat of Mrs Mary O'Rourke gave him another empty chair at the table. He was presented with the opportunity to re-shape one-third of his Government.
He could have thrown his customary caution to the winds in a way that no other Taoiseach has done since Mr Albert Reynolds blooded the last batch of new Ministers back in 1992. He could have introduced a fresh team to take the tired look off the Government for the next five years. On close examination, however, the appearance of change in the composition of Mr Ahern's new Cabinet with the appointment of five new Ministers is more illusory than real in most instances.
There is no gainsaying the fact that Mr Ahern was correct to drop Dr Michael Woods, Ms Síle de Valera, Mr Frank Fahey and Dr Jim McDaid. Dr Woods, who was a safe pair of hands, had served in the Cabinets of every Fianna Fáil leader for more than 20 years. The other three Ministers had under-performed in their different portfolios. Two more could have gone to make way for the new generation.
But Mr Ahern, in the end, played relatively safely. Some six of the most senior posts in the Cabinet are retained by outgoing Ministers. The Tánaiste and Progressive Democrats' leader, Ms Harney, who had indicated a preference for Transport, remains in Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Mr McCreevy could be the longest-serving Minister for Finance if he stays in the post for ten years. Mr Cowen holds Foreign Affairs, Mr Martin Health and Children, Mr Walsh Agriculture and Food and Mr Michael Smith Defence.
Whatever the perspective, the most interesting new appointment to the Cabinet is the nomination of Mr Michael McDowell as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. He could be a truly reforming Minister or make himself forever redundant. He will have to handle the fall-out from the Garda inquiry in Donegal, the establishment of a Garda inspectorate, the increase in street violence and reforms in prisons, the libel laws and the legal system.
Mr Seamus Brennan, who has won a deserved promotion to the newly-established Department of Transport, will implement one of the major policy priorities of the new Government. Mr Martin Cullen will oversee a green-dominated agenda in Environment. Mr Eamon Ó Cuív gets a re-vamped Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. And Ms Mary Coughlan's appointment as Minister for Social and Family Affairs has been roundly welcomed.
There is always something of an air of pomp, pride and ceremony about the appointment of a new Government. No less so this time. Apart from the personnel, however, there is a sense that the re-allocation of responsibilities among some Departments may not produce the strategic results promised.