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More Energy - Less Diplomacy?
 national |
miscellaneous |
opinion/analysis
 Saturday October 02, 2004 12:06 by Sean Crudden sean.crudden at iol dot ie Jenkinstown, Dundalk, Co Louth. 087 9739945
Some Effects of the Reshuffle.
A look at possible new emphases (for better or for worse) in public policy in a few key areas. Dermot Ahern, when he was in charge of the relevant department (Communications, Marine and Natural Resources), never seemed to grasp the essentials and fundamentals of the "energy" question for which his department was responsible. Judging from a phrase or two that I glimpsed on radio the other day the new minister, Noel Dempsey, seems to be more inclined to get this issue into better focus and nearer to the centre of the stage. Dempsey may get it wrong (he may get it right?) - but one thing about him is that he is less inclined to duck. Anyway this is an issue which has been tossed about by Cooley Environmental and Health Group since our winter workshop on "Energy" took place in January 2002 and I can only say that I feel more reassured now that the question which is part of a geo-environmental conundrum will begin to be addressed intelligently in this small country of ours.
Judging by a letter headed "Rather not learn Spin from ‘Army’" which appeared in The Argus a few weeks ago Mr Ahern seems to know more about slagging than he does about diplomacy and, incidentally, seems to convey more concern for spin than for substance.
I think that the energy and organisation of Sinn Fein is a useful addition to the political scene both locally and nationally and although, as a Progressive Democrat, I would not hesitate to trip them up on political issues, I welcome the politicisation of the armed struggle and I look forward to a satisfactory completion of the peace process. Let’s hope that animosities will be kept to a minimum and that The Department of Foreign Affairs will not be used to give a sour taste to the final stages of the peace process nor to put Sinn Fein at an unfair disadvantage politically.
Mary Harney Minister for Health - what can I say? Really I think it’s "Chicago or bust." Mary Harney’s capacity will be taxed to the limit but I think she will do it and I wish her well.
Yes. It seems to me that the reshuffle was a clever rearrangement of available "resources."
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Comments (6 of 6)
Jump To Comment: 6 5 4 3 2 1Sean, i assume you are comparing Mary Harney and her PDs to the old Fine Gaelers when you refer to people who are "even more disgusting personally and politically".
It takes some doing, but she managed it.
Hello Mr Crudden the family structure is eroded as we have become a secular society. Younger folk have little respect like in old days. A sign of the times they tell us.
Eva
Thanks Teresa - I overlooked the fact that Mary Harney's department is the department of children as well as the department of health. The whole issue of children and health is one of the most fundamental and germane issues in our society today. Why are so many of our young adults even more disgusting personally and politically than many older people are?
I agree Sean. Mary Harney needs to get up of her arse and get on her bike and show some action it would be better. Well I see she has now gone to Health and Children. God Pray for us and her now. Amen.
Yes Sean tinkering with the problems rather than curing it can bluff some of the people sometimes but Irish people may soon be awakening to this kind of bluffing. The causes of socieconomic problems need to be addressed. If we were to house all criminals in Ireland we would need more prisons than houses and the state would be bankrupt that is if all crime including white collar crime were included in the equation.
Some of the cabinet may be obese, constipated, or have their passage blocked as this state of Ireland is only tinkering with the vast amount of social and economic problems that are rooted in our state.
We have structural problems and they seem to be coming major major in recent years while some politicians are becoming more obese etc.
It is long past time for a major shake up in the agencies of the political structure of Ireland. We need a new invention for for political wheel of Ireland if we are to avoid further disaster.
Having Mary Harney for Minister for Health is likely to be disastrous. Her record is one of implementing cutbacks.
As a medical card holder I am concerned as to what new rules and regulations she might impose, and whether medical card holders will have more difficulty getting their cards renewed. I am also concerned as to whether she will cut back on the range of treatments and medicines available on the medical card.
Instead of cutting back, I believe the medical card should be made available to a broader range of people. We are not here to further enrich the medical mafia.