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	Where to Next for Our Beleaguered Cabinet? By Fionnan Sheahan Irish Independent December 27, 2008 http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/fionnan-sheahan/where-to-next-for-our-beleaguered-cabinet-1586156.html Who wants to be a Minister? In the present economic climate, it might be a blessing in disguise to be dropped from the Cabinet in the next year. Being a Minister in the midst of an economic meltdown is not an easy task. Ministers who rode the crest of a wave during the boom are now treading water in the bust. The Exchequer Returns, the end of year accounts of income and expenditure, are due for publication on January 5. The figures will not be good and will be definitive account of just how bad 2008 was for the public finances. And if it was difficult this year, it's not going to get any better next year. Yet there's a queue of TDs willing to take up places at the Cabinet table, according to the Taoiseach. Not that he wants to spark any rumours about a Cabinet reshuffle. "But you know, and I don't want to create unnecessary speculation, only that we have a lot of talented people, a lot of people in the party and part of a leaders' job is to try and continue to provide opportunities," he says in an interview with the Irish Independent. If Mr Cowen is happy with the performance of his Cabinet, that would leave him in a minority of one in this country. The present Government is entering uncharted waters as it aims to plunge new depths of unpopularity. Mr Cowen is standing firmly by his decision to appoint two ministers with relatively light experience at a senior level as his wartime kitchen Cabinet. He says Tanaiste Mary Coughlan and Finance Minister Brian Lenihan are "loyal colleagues, who are working well, who have the confidence of those with whom they work and for whom they work." Mr Cowen's other personalised admissions to the Cabinet room would have to be retained, although Batt O'Keeffe's authority has been damaged by cave-ins on the budget cuts he initially stood by and the gloss has worn off Barry Andrews, in the past week, with his failure to read a report commissioned on the handling of child abuse allegations in the Diocese of Cloyne. Brendan Smith emerged with few plaudits from the pork crisis as he appeared to be overly dependent on his officials for advice and didn't figure out Step 2 before taking Step 1. Martin Cullen seems to be one step away from the exit, but hasn't done anything wrong as Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. Mary Hanafin also is not a favourite of Mr Cowen but hasn't done badly as Minister for Social Welfare and defended the child benefit from the budget axe. Immovable Micheal Martin as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Dermot Ahern as Minister for Justice have both thrived after being overlooked for the economic roles. This pair, and Noel Dempsey, are immovable from Cabinet. Mary Harney must surely be living on borrowed time, with the demise of the PDs, but her replacement as Minister for Health is not all that obvious. The failure of Mr Cowen to promote Willie O'Dea above the rank of Minister for Defence was a mystery and would raise questions about his future, but his ability to defend the line on national issues (if not local) makes him an asset. If Mr Cowen figures out whether there is a point to having Eamon O Cuiv as Minister for Community Affairs forever, he might rethink the strategy. Geography and gender will again play a role in the selections. Among those waiting in the wings to be promoted to a full Cabinet portfolio include Mr Andrews, Government Chief Whip Pat Carey, Tony Killeen, Billy Kelleher, John McGuinness, John Curran, Peter Power and John Moloney, although it's increasingly difficult to judge Mr Cowen's thinking.
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