Drapier: Well, there is no doubting what the main political story of the week is - The Reshuffle. It was definitely the longest-running saga for quite a while.
Following the bad results for Fianna Fáil and the PDs in the local and European elections, the Taoiseach announced there would be a major reshuffle which was finally realised on Wednesday, September 29th. Three-and-a-half months of total speculation, intrigue, conspiracy, conjecture, all combined to make it run like a TV soap opera.
It had the desired effect. Holders of office and aspirant holders of office were quiet and conducted their business with decorum, fearing that if they didn't do so, the axe would fall on them. The outcome was that the Taoiseach would enjoy the Kerry air knowing there would be no noisy squawks offstage.
The exception was, of course, the drama of the August Escapade by the minister for defence, Michael Smith, who conducted a lone ranger-type of guerrilla warfare right throughout the month of August in an effort to keep his seat at Cabinet. It was diverting and amusing, but to no avail.
September saw a great flurry of ministers opening, reopening, announcing and reannouncing projects, declaring half-bypasses and half-roads open (one of them closed the next day due to congestion). The most comical of all was the not so cuddly figure of Martin Cullen, then minister for the environment, clutching a waif of a dog and announcing again measures to help stray dogs. All of this carry-on was conducted in an endeavour to ensure that the Taoiseach knew they were alive, well and kicking.
Fast forward to the Reshuffle. Three vacancies, plus the Mary Hanafin vacancy. Allied to that, major changes of faces and voices at different Departments.
By far the most interesting is the move by the Tánaiste, Mary Harney, to the Department of Health. Harney has gumption go leor and the general belief within Leinster House right across the political divide is that she will make a go of it. She is truly une femme formidable and will have the clout to get the extra finances which will be needed.
Micheál Martin (safely transferred to the haven of Enterprise, Trade and Employment) has left a pile of reform reports on her desk. She should also seek to tackle immediately issues which affect members of the public. For instance, the accident and emergency situation, the competition to come in private health insurance, and medical cards for those on the margins.
Mary Coughlan in Agriculture, Mary Hanafin in Education - again, across the floor of the House and in general, a fair reception for all of the announcements.
What is one to make of the move for Seamus Brennan from Transport to the Department of Social Welfare? On Tuesday night, it is understood, he received the body blow that he was to be moved out of Cabinet. Some observers state that he invoked the help of his patron, who stepped in to save his skin. Whether this happened or not, the former minister for transport is not happy at his move and his face betrayed it all.
Dick Roche in Environment and Martin Cullen in Transport will be ones to watch. There is plenty of fertile ground for mistakes and pitfalls and they will both do well to avoid them.
Some of the junior appointments were interesting. Senior ministers don't like sharing responsibility. It is believed that the Taoiseach is going to put the firm hand on them to ensure that there are clearly delineated areas of responsibility for junior ministers and that they perform. The public don't think much of junior ministers, simply because they don't know who they are or what they are supposed to do.
All in all, it is not a top-of-the-range reshuffle. However, the combination of some new faces, different voices coming from different Departments and a fresh angle and slant on issues will bring an air of enterprise to what had become in some cases staid endeavours.
Enda Kenny and Pat Rabbitte made good speeches on the appointments in the Dáil and have started the new term with a dash of vigour.
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Summer also saw the presidential capers. There are genuinely two sides to the Michael D. effort and it is easy to see both sides. The idealism and pioneering spirit of Michael D. up against the realistic pragmatism of the Labour leader, knowing full well that Mary McAleese was unbeatable. All is over now anyway and Mary and Martin will, with acclaim and grace, occupy the Áras for the next seven years.
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Drapier believes that the appointment of Tom Kitt to the job of Chief Whip is a good one. On June 26th, 1997, when Bertie Ahern marched his new team into Dáil Éireann, Tom Kitt was to be the Chief Whip to the Government. A last-minute fight by Seamus Brennan meant a last-minute switch. Tom Kitt went as a junior to Foreign Affairs and Seamus Brennan became the new Chief Whip. So seven years on, Tom Kitt gets the well-merited prize.
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An addendum to all of the above heady stuff. On Tuesday evening last, on the eve of the reshuffle, Drapier was leaving a local hostelry with friends. Charlie McCreevy emerged from the Department of Finance. He came down the steps and as he reached the car door, the commissioner-designate and now ex-minister for finance turned around and had a last look at his offices. What better way to go than on a high financial note, leaving brimming coffers behind him?
They will be well minded by Brian Cowen.