Rabitte for Taoiseach?

The_Minister

Hi,
I was reading one of those free papers, and it had an interview with Rabitte in it (normal generic stuff, nothing interesting or new in the answers). One of the questions asked if if Enda and Rabitte had a deal to take turns as Taoiseach. Rabbitte said that he never discussed with Enda, but that every politician wants to be Taoiseach, and that that stuff would take place after the election (that's obviously not word-for-word).
I have never heard of this concept of taking turns as Taoiseach. Is there a precedent? If so, did it work out? What does it mean for the direction of a government (Would it make a difference to policy). Have any of the parties hinted at this yet?
I never heard a whisper about this until today. Can someone from FG or Lab clarify?

Tricity Bendix

If the political landscape is such that Labour could put either the Dáilternatives or Fianna Fáil in power, the price of his support could very well be a stint as Taoiseach.

Stephen

I reckon if Rabitte were in a position to be taoiseach the Labour-FG coalition would do better in the election.

tHE vAGGABOND

This would only happen if Labour's vote got *very* close to FG's - which is not going to happen if we are honest..

I suppose you never say never in politics, but I would *stunned* if FG agreed to this..

Tricity Bendix

tHE vAGGABOND wrote:

This would only happen if Labour's vote got *very* close to FG's - which is not going to happen if we are honest..

I suppose you never say never in politics, but I would *stunned* if FG agreed to this..

What about Fianna Fáil?

gandalf

Don't see either FG or FF agreeing to this at all.

marco_polo

Wasn't this revolving Taoiseach concept floating around before the last time we had a rainbow coalition? It was dismissed as a unworkable solution at the time, and is a ridiculous idea in my opinion. If there are any such requests from labour I'm sure it would only be used as a bit of leverage to gain an extra minister or two in the cabinet.

marco_polo

b.ie polar wrote:

What about Fianna Fáil?

They are only just getting used to coalitions (I'll bet they still have a few in the party who believe that they should go it alone or not at all), a revolving Taoiseach so soon after the shock of this would be surely too much for them to bear

The_Minister

The general consesus seems to be that Labour will be told no. That's good.

gandalf

Yes just like the PD's were

Pat Taoiseach?

Dear God Nooooooooooooooooooo...

gandalf

What Pat the Plasterer Conor?

Pat the Plasterer can at least say he's had a proper job outside politics for that real life experience stuff

The_Minister

Rabitte has loads of experience, he was in:
Sinn Fein
Workers Party
Democratic Left
Labour
I think I may have missed one or two.

gandalf

Ah well Conor at the moment we have Bertie the Borrower

gandalf

gandalf wrote:

Ah well Conor at the moment we have Bertie the Borrower

You could possibly have stuck in a 'bungling' somewhere too! I wouldn't argue...

The_Minister wrote:

Rabitte has loads of experience, he was in:
Sinn Fein
Workers Party
Democratic Left
Labour
I think I may have missed one or two.

Ouch. Has his migration from left to right been completed now the kids are in private school and the SSIA has matured?

The_Minister

Deleted User wrote:

Ouch. Has his migration from left to right been completed now the kids are in private school and the SSIA has matured?

I knew about the kids, but I didn't know about the SSIA! Didn't he condemn them and say that Labour would never do them?

Dirk Gently

The_Minister wrote:

I knew about the kids, but I didn't know about the SSIA! Didn't he condemn them and say that Labour would never do them?

He condemned the introduction of ssia's as a government policy but said that once they were introduced (against his wishes) he would be silly not to take advantage of them.

His position makes sense in a twisted kind of way.

goes something like....... "Labour would not have introduced the ssia scheme but sure might as well take advantage of it as a private citizen seen as SSIA is a reality and there's nothing I can do about it now"

still leaves him wide open for ridicule though.

InFront

It's not really a scenario most people would give any consideration to, except maybe those free newspapers looking for an ultra tabloid take this sort of thing.

A far scarier thought (seeing how it's all hypotheticals anyway) would be what would happen if McDowell were to become Taoiseach for a while.

csk

I remember reading before about this revolving Taoiseach idea but that it was in some way unconstitutional therefore a definite no-no. I could be mistaken though.

johnnyrotten

The_Minister wrote:

Rabitte for Taoiseach?

Jesus NO!!:eek: :eek: :eek:

Bottle_of_Smoke

I don't like him but I'd much prefer Rabitte to Kenny