Ministers In The Wrong Job?

senordingdong

So I read the headline that Lenihan is snubbing the input of leading economists, who say NAMA carries far more risks than he seems to think.
I would have though he would appreaciate any input from all and any group of people that have a clue, but no, he actually outright rejected everything they had to say.

I'm no scientist, but surely they would know more about these things than Lenihan. I mean, it is their profession to know and understand the economy, instead of say...a barrister.

I can't for the life of me understand why ministers are handed the reigns of these departments with nothing more than a basic understanding of how they work.
Lenihan was a barrister, that's what he studied to be. How the **** could he possibly know more about the economy then someone who has been studying economics for their whole life.
And Harney, she used to be a teacher...why on earth was she pout in charge of health?
Surely a doctor or someone with a basic understanding of how the health system works would have made sense.

Willie O'Dea studied law, but he is Minister for Defence.
Noel Dempsey was a career guidance teacher but is now Minister for Transport.
Micheál Martin was a history teacher and is now Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Am I the only person who thinks that an appointed minister should atleast have a background in the field of the department that they are heading?

DarkJager

Willie O Dea is like Dirty Harry with a ****ing water pistol....absolutely useless.

Sposs

So he should be listening to the same economists who couldn't foresee one of the worst economic collapses in our lifetime?

Iang87

Ministers in the wrong job?

All of them

hobochris

Sposs wrote: »

So he should be listening to the same economists who couldn't foresee one of the worst economic collapses in our lifetime?

Who says they didn't foresee it! As pointed out above, its more likely the government were warned but ignored it with the "but we're different, it wont happen to our ecomony" argument.

senordingdong

Sposs wrote: »

So he should be listening to the same economists who couldn't foresee one of the worst economic collapses in our lifetime?

It was my understanding that they were warned.
And rejected the warning.

Blazer

Sposs wrote: »

So he should be listening to the same economists who couldn't foresee one of the worst economic collapses in our lifetime?

Actually a lot of those economists warned the government time and time again that Ireland was at a real risk of recession thanks to it's over dependence on the construction industry. Hell even I saw once the sub prime market went tits up in the US that we were in serious trouble.
So if I could see it why couldn't the government?
Of course the Government aka "fcukhead Bertie" in all their wisdom decided they knew better and we all know who was proven right.
And now we see the same thing repeating itself. We Irish never learn our lessons and frankly for the idiots who voted these muppets back in they deserve everything coming to them.

Long Onion

Meh,

Brendan Drumm is a Doctor - nuf said.

46 economists out of the 250 it was sent to supported it so go figure.

On a seperate point whay does a country the size of Ireland have 250 fcuking economists?

narwog81

He has hired one the the country's leading economists Alan Aherne as his special advisor so its not as if he is going it alone without any specialised advice...

and the minister of a government department is just the figurehead, they are supposed to provide the impetus and direction for policy while the civil servants in the deparment who are qualified in the area actually shape the detail of it.

senordingdong

Drumm is still under Harneys whip though.

I'd ask why does this country have any economists.
No-one seems to listen to them.

hobochris

Long Onion wrote: »

On a seperate point whay does a country the size of Ireland have 250 fcuking economists?

Well given the fact the we are so tied into foreign economies, my guess would be to monitor those economies as well as our own.

pikachucheeks

I think the most obvious minister in the wrong job is Mary Harney.

From just looking at her, you can tell she's not suited to the role of Health Minister!

Wertz

If I'm ever up in court I intend to have my accountant provide my defence. Lawyers are obviously more suited to bookkeeping and payroll duties...

Long Onion

pikachucheeks wrote: »

I think the most obvious minister in the wrong job is Mary Harney.

From just looking at her, you can tell she's not suited to the role of Health Minister!

Yeah, but you couldn't give it to Reilly either, he's like a beardy coronary

narwog81

Long Onion wrote: »

On a seperate point whay does a country the size of Ireland have 250 fcuking economists?

well seeing as we have 7 universities in such a small country we need people to staff all the economics and business departments in them:D

ejmaztec

Those lawyers must know about economics, they being pretty adept at being economical with the truth.