The new Irish Government

agendaNi reviews Dublin’s coalition Cabinet.

“By the end of our term in Government, Ireland will be recognised as a modern, fair, socially inclusive and equal society supported by a productive and prosperous economy,” the Republic’s new Programme for Government promises.

It does pay lip service to Northern Ireland by claiming the new Government will support the full implementation of the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreements, identify new areas for North/South co-operation, create jobs on the island and tackle the dissident threat.

Since 9 March, Northern Ireland has entered the Republic’s radar once, with the new Health Minister James Reilly telling the BBC that he had been trying to get in touch with Michael McGimpsey to clarify that the Republic is “fully committed” to funding the radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin. However, McGimpsey postponed the unit.

Enda Kenny’s new 15-member Cabinet is predominantly male, over 50 with ministers having previously sat at Cabinet or been leader of their party. However, this does bring experience during the economic crisis. Older ministers include Michael Noonan (67) and Ruairí Quinn (64).

Reform is the buzz word of the 31st Dáil, mainly because, in terms of finance, the Government’s hands are tied by Europe and the IMF and this, in turn, affects national affairs such as health and social welfare. The Government has to give the impression that it will become more accountable to the electorate. The creation of two new departments and the amalgamation or alteration of seven others reflects the beginning of change.

The Department of Finance is being split into two: Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. The Department of Health and Children will be split into the Department of Health and the Department of Children. The defence portfolio will be combined

with justice, and ‘Enterprise, Trade and Innovation’ will become ‘Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation’.

All ministers will take a pay-cut with the Taoiseach’s salary decreasing from €214,000 to €200,000.

By entering into a “covenant” with the Irish people, Kenny said that the Government would “tell people the truth, no matter how unwelcome or difficult that might be.”