No local Ministers for Fine Gael
by Danielle Harney Updated: Wednesday, 16th March, 2011 5:10pm
Cabinet reshuffle in two years time - McFadden
Local Fine Gael TDs expressed surprise this week that not a single party deputy in the Midlands region was promoted to a ministerial role in the new Government.
In the three constituencies of Longford/Westmeath, Roscommon/South Leitrim and Laois/Offaly, there were six Fine Gael TDs elected last, however none of them received a promotion to the cabinet as announced by the Taoiseach last week. Only Labour's Willie Penrose from Mullingar succeeded, receiving a 'super junior' ministerial role with responsibility for housing.
Longford Westmeath Deputy Nicky McFadden said that the outcome showed how many talented people there are in the party right now and it is the Taoiseach's intention to have a cabinet reshuffle in two years' time.
"Enda Kenny appoints people based on merit and he will reshuffle in two years' time. It has nothing to do with location at all," she said.
Deputy McFadden said she would have been very pleased if she had been promoted to a ministerial or junior ministerial role, but that "you have to crawl before you walk".
"I would have been very pleased if I was promoted, but the reality is that there are a lot of other people more experienced than I, but I am looking forward to my brief. This week is all about getting used to being a TD."
She added that she hopes to be appointed to a committee next week, once the Dáil gets back to normal after the St Patrick's Day celebrations, when there will be more time to discuss Government business with Mr Kenny.
She said her main concern is to create a stimulus to get the 16,000 people unemployed in Longford/Westmeath back to work.
"I'm very pleased with the Government, it's a good marrying of Fine Gael and Labour and I'm delighted Willie Penrose got a super junior minister role," she added.
Roscommon South Leitrim Denis Naughten was also surprised by the lack of promotion for a Fine Gael TD in the Midlands.
"I did think that someone in the Midlands would have gotten a junior ministerial role, but I am delighted for Willie Penrose, he'll do an excellent job and will represent the Midlands well. I would have hoped that someone within the three constituencies would have got a junior ministerial role, I hope in three years time when there's a reshuffle, a Midlands TD will get in."
Deputy Naughten added that he wasn't too surprised that he didn't receive a promotion as he had been demoted from the frontbench while in opposition.
"I suppose it is very hard, it's like trying to divide out the loaves and fishes, especially with 76 members in the Government. I wasn't on the frontbench so I was not expecting anything.
Naturally enough, I would have relished an opportunity to take on a portfolio. But now I am looking forward to having more time to look at issues in my constituency," he said. He said that the role he played in the failed leadership heave of Enda Kenny last year, which resulted in him losing his spokesperson role, probably did affect his chances but that he had to be honest with himself and with the public at the time.
"I've been proven wrong and I'm glad I have been proven wrong. My objective was to get Fine Gael a strong mandate and my objective was to get re-elected," added Deputy Naughten.
Deputy James Bannon from Longford said that the ministerial decisions were Enda Kenny's prerogative.
"There's plenty of time yet (for me).
There was a huge number of people to be accommodated and we have a very large parliamentary party, there was also the transfer of functions in a number of Departments," he said.
"It's the prerogative of the Taoiseach. It's something you have to accept, it doesn't hinder me and my mandate for the people. We are all working together, it's Team Fine Gael and Team Labour." He said the Government needs to focus on reforming how the country works and had to lead by example.
"We have a mandate to fix the country and to fix the economy. I want to see this Government deliver on the promises it has made."
