Political advantage, rather than a reward for ability and hard work, probably informed the decision of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to appoint Mary Wallace as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture. Yesterday's Dáil announcement shocked the supporters of Seán Haughey, Jim Glennon and Seán Ardagh who, on the basis of consistent comment in Government circles, had regarded their men as the most likely candidates for promotion. The appointment, once again, emphasised Mr Ahern's unconventional leadership style.
The delay in making the announcement - Ivor Callely was forced to resign his position in disgrace last December - was also par for the course. The Taoiseach seldom performs a difficult task today, if it can be postponed until tomorrow. And, like most party leaders, he pays as much attention to constituency advantage as to political merit. Because of that, Ms Wallace has been given a second chance as Minister of State and will be expected to bring in a running mate in the new constituency of Meath East.
Apart from promoting Ms Wallace, the Taoiseach engaged in a tidying-up exercise within Government. He moved Minister of State, Pat "the Cope" Gallagher, from the Department of the Marine, where he has been at loggerheads with his boss, Noel Dempsey over the content of the Sea Fisheries Bill, to the Department of Transport. And John Browne was moved to Marine to make way for Ms Wallace at the Department of Agriculture.
These changes will not alter the dynamic of Government. But they may serve as cautionary lessons for those who would second-guess the Taoiseach or seek to challenge the pecking order within Government. With a general election on the horizon, Mr Ahern would have had no desire to reawaken public interest in the Haughey years by promoting his son, no matter how deserving. And other male promotions could have generated party problems. So he chose a woman from outside Dublin.
Ms Wallace was shabbily treated after the general election in 2002 when she was dropped as a Minister of State. True, she had been forced to withdraw the controversial Disabilities Bill, which almost cost the party a seat. But that setback was largely caused by a Department of Finance failure to provide funding. The Bill finally passed last year, after the Government had voted €2.8 billion for disability services in the budget. Her appointment will take the threadbare look from the Government's commitment to gender balance. But, in giving her responsibility for forestry matters, the Taoiseach has made his own quiet point.