Wednesday, April 04, 2007
SF Ministerial roles announced
SF has divvied up its jobs - Catriona Ruane for Education, Conor Murphy for Regional Development, Michelle Gildernew for Agriculture and Gerry Kelly takes the Junior Ministry post in OFM/DFM. Margaret Ritchie has been confirmed as the SDLP’s nominee for Social Development. The Unionist parties are expected to announce later in the week.
Fair Deal @ 03:18 PM
They should make a formidable team. The Shinners don’t want for talent, that’s for sure.
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 03:32 PMRuane is a light weight - drafted in to do down the SDLP not to be a good Minister. Granted the other two seem to be intelligent but thats no guarantee that they will be good Ministers
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 03:58 PMInteresting Gerry Kelly going to OFM/DFM i thought he was the leading light that was going to become Minister for Policing and Justice?? Maybe they’ve realised with boundary changes etc he won’t win North Belfast and they’ve given him the best job he could possibly get!
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 04:04 PMMurphy is a good appointment, as is Kelly.
Ruane in education will be interesting - not having been educated here I don’t imagine she’ll have the same in-bred attitudes taht everyone else has.
But Gildernew? Holy shit. The only possible explanation for this is that they sense some threat in FST from Foster?
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 04:07 PMPutting Kelly in will heighten his profile even further. That should help his case in North Belfast. It will also help him get ministerial/adminstrative experience for the bigger job ahead?
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 04:12 PMThis might be naive but where is Adams in all this?
Is it just others time to shine or is he waiting for Tanaiste?
Or even the Big One?
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 04:17 PMAs a supporter of SF’s *present* policies and, therefore, as a comparatively recent SF voter, I’m inclined to agree with Elvis P about the ‘clout’, intellectually or otherwise, of Ms Ruane. I think her appointment was done on purely strategic terms with the South Down seat in SF’s sights as the main prize. My own jury’s out on Gildernew as well, as she’s prone to a lot of ‘foot and mouth’ gaffs which, on the other hand, might suit for for her appointed post! Conor Murphy is very impressive as is John O’Dowd which makes me wonder why the latter wasn’t in the top team. Nonetheless, I wish them well and that also goes for the ministers from the other parties.
On a flight of fantasy, perhaps the First Minister, in his dual role as head of his church and this jurisdiction, could ask for advice on how to run a small statelet with a large diaspora from a person in a similar position - the Pope of Rome. Hmm? Na-ah!!
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 04:20 PMI wouldn’t say so, Maskey has now got that brief and the Shinners don’t make changes just to go back on them later. I think this is bad news for Kelly and he’s been given the junior minister position simply as a cushion for his fall.
Certainly the Police and Security job is more high profile than the Junior Minister post?? Absolutley! Keeping the security brief raised Kelly’s profile and would have eaten into more SDLP votes in North Belfast if he could be seen as the Policing and Justice Minister in the near future and therefore more acceptable to middle-class SDLP voters on the Antrim Road. Instead he’s gonna be a lackey in the OFM/DFM office - won’t pull him in any further votes
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 04:23 PMThese appointments are not about seats or individuals this is about a team who will shape each department as sinn fein wants it shaped. Kelly in with McGuinness at OFMDFM was the obvious choice if there is going to be a battle a day it will be here and who else for the fight than one of the best soldiers about. Gerry Kelly has proved his abilty over the past 35 years in every battleground this struggle has presented. Very good appointments by Gerry Adams the right team to do the job required.
Mark Durkan had no choice but it now leaves his own personal stature in tatters, former deputy first minister not even in the executive. If we were to count in terms of relevance he is 14th in the north not to mention were he rates on the island. The executive table will be a lonely place for Margaret Ritchie.
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 04:24 PMThe SDLP seems to be taking a big gamble on raising Margaret Ritchie’s profile ahead of the next Westminster election, especially as Caitriona Ruane will also benefit from the increased exposure of a Ministerial brief.
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 04:31 PM“Gerry Kelly has proved his abilty over the past 35 years in every battleground this struggle has presented”
So yeah then Mr J Kelly, he’s obviously not looking for the North seat lol. Also:
“These appointments are not about seats or individuals this is about a team who will shape each department as sinn fein wants it shaped”
So it’s just coincidence then that Ruane (the candidate for the SF targeted South Down seat) and Gildernew (selected to raise her profile in FST ahead of the challenge of Foster after she beat her in the assembly elections.) got selected?? Wishful thinking really!!
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 04:37 PMwhen your back is against the wall you have no other option but gamble. durkan was the obvious choice but it would have sent out the message of the sdlp being a one man band. i have to say its terrible to see a once great party in so much trouble LOL
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 04:37 PMAnd the first prize for swallowing the Shinners’ dictonary goes to…
J Kelly: “Gerry Kelly has proved his abilty over the past 35 years in every battleground this struggle has presented.”
Some one pass the sick bucket, quick!!
Plum Duff as: “a supporter of SF’s *present* policies”, I hope you notice the pride in the continuity of ‘the struggle’ that people like J Kelly show.
I acknowledge that Kelly and Murphy have significant political abilities, the same cannot be said of Gildernew.
I’m unsure about how Ruane will appraoch Eduacation. Surely one of the tasks that this minister will have to undertake will be increased rationalisation, and integration of the voluntary sector into the state system. Will Ruane have the nerve to tackle this issue?
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 04:38 PMOf course it would be helpful if I could type “dictionary” correctly.
On the SDLP and social development. I don’t see how they can use this ministry to improve the party’s position/profile. On the other hand avoiding the poisoned chalice of health is to their long-term advantage.
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 04:43 PMbye, bye gerry kelly!
[play the ball - edited moderator]
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 04:48 PMTK of course republicans show pride in the struggle and are proud of those who fought. The war maybe over but it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen or we should hide away from it.
Catriona Ruane has a formidable CV, CAJ, Feile an Phobal and she led the Bring them Home campaign for the Columbia 3. I don’t think that Sinn Fein would have given her the job if she hadn’t the ability.
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 04:51 PMRegarding Gildernew -
surely she is safe in FST? The SDLP seem to be in a very sorry state there and look set to lose even more votes should the seat look like it might fall to the DUP. Aren’t SF 3000 votes ahead? It is a republican/nationalist constituency (although not by much) and I cant see the DUP taking it back without the SDLP pulling off a major comeback to eat into the SF vote.
Regarding Ruane -
she always comes across as a capable Shinner. She does well in most debates and has a strong history of organising local bodies. Is there reason to doubt her intellect? Maybe I am forgetting something but has she a history of gaffs?
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 04:56 PM“republicans show pride in the struggle and are proud of those who fought”
Does that include babykillers who blew up innocent women and children on the Shankill?? Or all the murdered Policemen and women, and soldiers, only out doing a days work, earning a living?? Are they proud of these feats?? Its easy to say your proud of taking on the “Brits” but were you also proud of the anguish and grief that was caused by so many in the Republican movement??
Leave comments like that in the past or else stay there
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 05:03 PMI think that Ruane will prove her ability in what will no doubt be a difficult role. That is why I think the SDLP may regret the promotion of Ritchie. Had they no other MLA of ability to run a government department if Durkan genuinely did not want to take office himself?
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 05:03 PMJ Kelly, in the words of a graffiti artist on the Ormeau Road - it wasn’t a war, it was a very naughty boy.
Gum, I accept your point about Ruane’s organisational qualities. As URQUHARTW says without roots in the North she may even approach problems from a fresh perspective.
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 05:05 PMI would have thought Carmel Hanna would have been capable?? McDonnell wouldn’t have liked it though!!!
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 05:06 PMTo be honest, any talk of capabilities or otherwise of anyone is just fluff until they actual do something worthwhile. The jury’s out on the entire Executive.
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 05:16 PMThe Maskey/Kelly swap is an intresting move.
Alex is much more palatable to unionists than Gerry. In fact, I think Gerry scares the hell out of most unionists. Alex will be able to demonstrate a firm but sensitive hand on the Policing Board, and smooth the transition to local control over policing. I think most unionists would be broadly comfortable with Policing Minister Maskey alongside Justice Minister Paisley. I think a ministerial post of this kind may also help rehabilitate Kelly in unionist eyes. I think he’ll be the surprise star of the new cabinet line-up - if the Press give him a fair crack of the whip (which, of course, they won’t).
Whether the Shinners then try to pull a bait-and-switch and reinstate GerryK at Policing is another question entirely ....
The person who may be disappointed here is Mitchel McLoughlin. I know Shinners don’t do personal disappointment, but he’s too capable to be stuck as a mere MLA. A loss to the electorate as a whole. Gildernew has plenty of profile as an MP and MLA and she’s in a dead safe seat. If they wanted another woman (and while I wouldn’t want to suggest that Gildernew’s appointment is tokenism, it wouldn’t have looked good to have a ministerial team of 4 men and 1 woman), Martina Anderson would have been my preference, neophyte or not.
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 05:40 PMGum,
“...she always comes across as a capable Shinner...”
It’s just a shame nobody in South Down (and that’s NOBODY!) likes her! It still hasn’t been forgotten how she was parachuted in to the constituency and it still has been forgiven. In the last election, she had to canvass with just one other person. Now I know she could have called on friends from around the country and there were rumours of the EO investigating party spending but really… Are we to believe that Miss Ruane actually wanted to canvass on her own? In short, she is not liked and will struggle to change people’s minds in South Down.
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 05:56 PMLeaving my own politics and view of the administration to one side, I feel the appointment of two women to top jobs has got to be a progressive step, for in the past as far as having women politicos to the for, the north has often run a close second to Saudi.
Both women I would guess are under forty which is another plus as the assemble is full of grey suited middle aged males. As to Kelly, he may have his hands full decommissioning another department of the PRM if the barking of the dogs in the street is on the bone.
Could any of the boffins at slugger tell me what the responsibilities of the deputy first minister are and could McG be frozen out by Paisley?
Posted by on Apr 04, 2007 @ 06:01 PM
