who could fill in at finance for brian lenihan?

DrumSteve

first off let me say i wish brian all the best and i hope he makes a full recovery. However,should his health condition degrade, who could you see filling in for him in finance? I really can't see anyone in the current administration who would have the proper cajones to take it on but knowing cowen he'll probably stick cullen in there... Could this possibly force a GE?

mikemac

Michéal Martin

And no, the government was elected to a 5 year term and that is what they will serve. It's what the electorate wanted after all

DrumSteve

i was thinking martin... But would he want to take that on? He seems okay where he is?

baubl

DrumSteve wrote: »

i was thinking martin... But would he want to take that on? He seems okay where he is?

which martin, cullen
he of the e voting and storage shananigans,
how could he balance books

CrazyMel

Meeeeeeeee hahahahaha

Sorwie lmao... On a serious note hopefully it wont come 2 that... &If it does an ordinary joe soap would do better then your man ye mentioned above...

mikemac

DrumSteve was responding to Post 2, that was pretty clear
Seems to be the done thing on boards that absolutely must quote the poster above you!

Saves getting posters like you confused

DoctorStrange

No way would they let Cullen in.

Micheal Martin prob next in line but not in the golden circle so no.

Only Dempsy left?

greendom

Mary Harney is the only one with the balls for the job.

DrumSteve

thanks mikemac... There is not a hope in hell i was refering to cullen. I was refering to michael martin. And if they let dempsey in there... Then i'm sorry but we really are ****ed.

Pushtrak

Good question. Tweedle A or Tweedle B.

smcgiff

Isn't Dermot Ahern a qualified accountant?

Thought Brian did a decent job, but worry when I look around the cabinet table.

Mary Harney possibly, but can imagine lots of ye chocking on your turkey sandwiches at that one

smcgiff

greendom wrote: »

Mary Harney is the only one with the balls for the job.

Beat me to it

jpfahy

The lack of any brain power in the rest of the cabinet is going to become obvious now.

Absurdum

smcgiff wrote: »

Isn't Dermot Ahern a qualified accountant?

He's a solicitor - like Brian Lenihan.

mikemac

Brian Lenihan was a barrister, not a solicitor. It's not a pedantic point, anyone in the two professions would be quick to point out the differences

Colm R

The only one with the CV to match and available is Bertie!

browner85

Ben Dunne

SLUSK

DrumSteve wrote: »

first off let me say i wish brian all the best and i hope he makes a full recovery. However,should his health condition degrade, who could you see filling in for him in finance? I really can't see anyone in the current administration who would have the proper cajones to take it on but knowing cowen he'll probably stick cullen in there... Could this possibly force a GE?

With all this NAMA business in mind I'm betting a monkey would not do a worse job.

skelliser

one good way to ruin your political future is to take that job on, thats why i reckon lenihan was given it in the first place.
so im hoping micheal martin gets it, one gob****e who has his eyes on the big job and to which i would glady take up arms to stop happening, so micheal it is!!

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Sierra Oscar

Dermot Ahern or Martin.

skelliser

harney? jesus, just when we thought we were close to getting rid of her!
that women has left some wake behind her and i dont mean litereally!
for instance the molloy/fas dibacle can be traced directly back to her yet nothing was ever said!

number10a

Though I'm a bit uneasy about the speed at which this thread has appeared on boards, I would have to say Mary Harney. She would do a better job than anyone else around the cabinet table. But I genuinely hope that this is all wasted speculation and that Mr Lenihan is fine.

smcgiff

browner85 wrote: »

Ben Dunne

Finance Minister has to be a member of the Dail.

Run_to_da_hills

smcgiff wrote: »

Finance Minister has to be a member of the Dail.

Just make certain people members.

Michael O' Leary.

smcgiff

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Just make him a member.


Michael O' Leary.

Would love the bould Michael !!! There'd be anarchy for a few months because of the strikes, but we'd be up and running again a lot quicker because of him.

Dirk Gently

The only two people on the government side I feel are capable enough (best of a bad bunch situation) for finance are the two Brians unfortunately. Here's hoping Mr Lenihan isn't as bad as is thought and makes a full recovery (a) on a personal level and (b) because no one else bar Cowen can take on finance even in a caretaker role to see us through to the next general election when we can finally remove FF from government.

If Lenihan is unable to continue then we will have a substantially inferior minister take over from him. I don't reckon Martin would be up for the job tbh. I actually like the guy but I think finance is beyond his abilities. I'd hate to see Dempsey or Ahern in the role. I think maybe Harney might get the position purely because as mentioned, she's probably the only one brave enough to take it on and I'd imagine the others would be trying to dodge the bullet.

As much as I hate FF, we are stuck with them till election time and there is a serious lack of brain power there as it is. We can't really afford to dilute it even further. I'm having nightmares already about Mary coughlan or Willie o Dea getting it.

Get well soon Mr Lenihan, because failing that we need a GE or national unity government ASAP.

RobFowl

greendom wrote: »

Mary Harney is the only one with the balls for the job.

FAS
The HSE
The Government jet
Haircuts in Florida claimed as expenses


Are you seriously suggesting she be let loose on the state finances in this enviroment .....:eek:

Rein-in

Could Cowen relinquish his role as Taoiseach and retake Finance? Maybe he's the only one with a recent enough insight into finance. Then let someone else take the reins?

greendom

RobFowl wrote: »

FAS
The HSE
The Government jet
Haircuts in Florida claimed as expenses


Are you seriously suggesting she be let loose on the state finances in this enviroment .....:eek:

She's the best of a bad bunch. She's the only one who wouldn't give into the whim of every interest group going.

We need someone strong who want take any BS. All the others will give in to pay demands at the first sign of trouble. The HSE is a mess but with anyone else in charge of that portfolio it would be a far bigger mess.

Haircuts in Florida - Government jets ok so that's bad pr but Ireland has far more serious things to be worrying aboutat the moment.

gizmo555

greendom wrote: »

She's the best of a bad bunch. She's the only one who wouldn't give into the whim of every interest group going.

She [Harney] was a member of the government which for over ten years gave into the whim of every interest group going. Our current situation is just as much her responsibility as anyone's.

ronbyrne2005

Lenihans economic advisor Alan Aherne would be able to brief any new/temporary finance minister. Ultimately Biffo makes the big calls anyway so post could be merged with taoiseach role and more advisors brought in. Or government of national unity with Bruton of FG made min of finance.

Sponge Bob

I would think that only Mary Harney or Dermot Ahern are capable of projecting some aura of competence and keeping the IMF at bay for another while, O Cuiv if they were very stuck mainly because he can count . Any of the rest of them and the country will collapse almost overnight.

Martin simply could not handle the pressure and would crumble. Anybody who remembers Martin as Health Minister will recall that he had a head of hair and a healthy complexion when he got the job and was gaunt washed out and balding when he legged it out of there 4 years later. Harney actually volunteered for the job afterwards because nobody wanted it , she has lasted longer than Martin did.

While I don't think Martin can handle the pressure it must be said that most of the rest of the cabinet are borderline retarded but big in some small town somewhere which is how they got their seats at the table.

Bugnug

Not one person on the FF side of the house other than the two Brians is cappable of the job they simply aren't able or qualified for the position. There is an abbundance of economically talented people on the other side Bruton, Lee, Bruton, Quinn etc. Unfortunately for FG Kenny is their leader and as long as he is they will never see power. And labour simply would not get enough votes for a majority.

heybaby

While i would love to see the government use someone with expertise in economic issues and fiscal management, that option within the ranks of the fianna fail party does not exist, and they would never use outside assistance (michael o leary, david mcwilliams, eddie hobbs) i would think dermot aherne is the most likely person to get the post. he would be deemed to be a steady pair of hands in that he has been relatively gaff free in his career so far and is less tainted than the other idiots in his party. It is my belief that 2010 will see the IMF enter the equation in Ireland, and it is something i would welcome with open arms as neither our current government nor the opposition possess the courage to confront the issues head on. The IMF will oversee a reduction in public sector numbers by 30 to 40 % and a reduction of salaries by the same percentage, expenditure on social welfare would be cut by up to half and the minimum wage would be reduced. Expenditure on capital projects would be decimated. When the IMF enters the fray it will be a long overdue bloodbath that will render bertie's celtic tiger of wanton waste a dim and distant memory.

professore

RobFowl wrote: »

FAS
The HSE
The Government jet
Haircuts in Florida claimed as expenses


Are you seriously suggesting she be let loose on the state finances in this enviroment .....:eek:

Hmmm have I been living in a different country for the last 10 years? These were the worst excesses of our elected representatives ? Mary Harney is not FF so they leak everything about her whereas the other F**Kers have everything covered up.

FAS ... what did she do there? HSE ... only because no FF minister would take it on. Government jet ... no - one else has abused that? And finally a haircut ... FFS that's nothing compared to what the other F**Kers have done.

professore

gizmo555 wrote: »

She [Harney] was a member of the government which for over ten years gave into the whim of every interest group going. Our current situation is just as much her responsibility as anyone's.

Under Bertie's stewardship. The PDs were on a tight leash. Remember Cafe bars ?

mikemac

Bertie Ahern has experience and is available right now for an immediate return to the cabinet

Bugnug

heybaby wrote: »

While i would love to see the government use someone with expertise in economic issues and fiscal management, that option within the ranks of the fianna fail party does not exist, and they would never use outside assistance (michael o leary, david mcwilliams, eddie hobbs) i would think dermot aherne is the most likely person to get the post. he would be deemed to be a steady pair of hands in that he has been relatively gaff free in his career so far and is less tainted than the other idiots in his party. It is my belief that 2010 will see the IMF enter the equation in Ireland, and it is something i would welcome with open arms as neither our current government nor the opposition possess the courage to confront the issues head on. The IMF will oversee a reduction in public sector numbers by 30 to 40 % and a reduction of salaries by the same percentage, expenditure on social welfare would be cut by up to half and the minimum wage would be reduced. Expenditure on capital projects would be decimated. When the IMF enters the fray it will be a long overdue bloodbath that will render bertie's celtic tiger of wanton waste a dim and distant memory.

Well said. It will happen, its only a matter of when? The public sector think they got it hard in this budget well get ready for 2010 Begg, O'Connor et al. The IMF will make the last budget look like a picnic and I can't wait. The unions in this country need to be put in their their place, pity the goverment or the opposition don't have the balls to deal with them.

freewheeler

Yep..Mary Harney..i love it!!! considering the mess she has made of the health service she is ideally suited for this post and highly likely to keep the Fianna Failure/vegetable party bandwagon rolling.May God have mercy on us all...

gipo2

Bugnug wrote: »

There is an abbundance of economically talented people on the other side Bruton, Lee, Bruton, Quinn etc.

Very Funny

freewheeler

Bugnug wrote: »

Well said. It will happen, its only a matter of when? The public sector think they got it hard in this budget well get ready for 2010 Begg, O'Connor et al. The IMF will make the last budget look like a picnic and I can't wait. The unions in this country need to be put in their their place, pity the goverment or the opposition don't have the balls to deal with them.

Actually its the government that needs to be put in their place and hopefully they will at the (hopefully soon) next general election.Amazing that some people seem to think that this mess was created by trade unions.

freewheeler

gipo2 wrote: »

Very Funny

Actually gipo..unlike our present cowboys..these people DO actually know what they're talking about and would constitute a considerable improvement on what we have at present.

gipo2

freewheeler wrote: »

Actually gipo..unlike our present cowboys..these people DO actually know what they're talking about and would constitute a considerable improvement on what we have at present.

This is the same people that said the government were not spending enough just a short time ago. And now their spending too much.:D

heybaby

Im always of the opinion, whats good for the unions is bad for the country, for the better part of the last 20 years the unions have pottered along on their merry way, happy in the knowledge that bench marking satisfied their members, while the tax payer picks up the tab. The unions have congratulated themselves for ensuring a virtual stike free workplace over the last two decades,but look at the cost to this country, we have paid a kings ransom and have created monsters in the form of unelected, unnaccountable arrogant union leaders who themslves are on well over 100k per year each and have the temerity to threaten that if they dont get their own way, everyone will be sorry. I agree with the michael o leary approach to unions, which is to hold them in total contempt.

heybaby

freewheeler wrote: »

Actually gipo..unlike our present cowboys..these people DO actually know what they're talking about and would constitute a considerable improvement on what we have at present.

There is absolutely no indication whatsoever from those in opposition that they possess the courage to make the decisions necessary to get Ireland out of this economic mess. The opposition should be showing leadership on this issue and are faliing abysmally, the government is on the ropes, the country is on its knees, we need brutal honesty from FG and Labour not about what FF and the Greens have done , but about what they would do in government. We need gilmore and kenny to spell out how many public servants they would fire, how much the public sector pay bill would be reduced by in the first 6 months in office, how much capital expenditure would be decreased. The opposition must be clear that expenditure on social services would have to fall and by how much. To be deemed top be credible kenny and gilmore need to outline in forensic detail the nature of the fiscal bloodbath needed to correct the balance sheet, along with this they must outline what indiginous industries they are going to pump investment into in order to kickstart the economy, surely there is some aspect of the green revolution that we can tap into and sell to the rest of the world. we need an irish nokia guys. I have heard nothing but moaning and whinging from labour and FG so far, no ideas, no figures...the time is perfect fopr them top show leadership through honesty, the irish people would thank them for it.. it has thus far been lacking.

freewheeler

heybaby wrote: »

Im always of the opinion, whats good for the unions is bad for the country, for the better part of the last 20 years the unions have pottered along on their merry way, happy in the knowledge that bench marking satisfied their members, while the tax payer picks up the tab. The unions have congratulated themselves for ensuring a virtual stike free workplace over the last two decades,but look at the cost to this country, we have paid a kings ransom and have created monsters in the form of unelected, unnaccountable arrogant union leaders who themslves are on well over 100k per year each and have the temerity to threaten that if they dont get their own way, everyone will be sorry. I agree with the michael o leary approach to unions, which is to hold them in total contempt.

michael o leary is an arrogant git who in common with IBEC have no other desire than to see workers paid the lowest amount possible for the most possible output..you obviously think that this is the way to go? He in common with most bosses in industry want to maximise profits..i have no problem with this..thats why they're in business,however i do have a problem with them trying to acheive these gains off the back of the working class.The unions (such as they are) are workers only buffer to these guys and as such must be supported.You seem to forget that it was THIS government who let the cost of living in this country get to the ridiculous levels its at today where EVERY business has,is,and will continue to screw people for every product and service,thus ensuring that quite rightly wages had to follow suit.

freewheeler

heybaby wrote: »

There is absolutely no indication whatsoever from those in opposition that they possess the courage to make the decisions necessary to get Ireland out of this economic mess. The opposition should be showing leadership on this issue and are faliing abysmally, the government is on the ropes, the country is on its knees, we need brutal honesty from FG and Labour not about what FF and the Greens have done , but about what they would do in government. We need gilmore and kenny to spell out how many public servants they would fire, how much the public sector pay bill would be reduced by in the first 6 months in office, how much capital expenditure would be decreased. The opposition must be clear that expenditure on social services would have to fall and by how much. To be deemed top be credible kenny and gilmore need to outline in forensic detail the nature of the fiscal bloodbath needed to correct the balance sheet, along with this they must outline what indiginous industries they are going to pump investment into in order to kickstart the economy, surely there is some aspect of the green revolution that we can tap into and sell to the rest of the world. we need an irish nokia guys. I have heard nothing but moaning and whinging from labour and FG so far, no ideas, no figures...the time is perfect fopr them top show leadership through honesty, the irish people would thank them for it.. it has thus far been lacking.

agree with some of this..but i firmly believe that we have reached an all time low government wise..and the only way is up..i have no faith whatsoever in our present lot who led us into this mess..what makes anyone think they can get us out of it?

ronbyrne2005

heybaby wrote: »

Im always of the opinion, whats good for the unions is bad for the country, for the better part of the last 20 years the unions have pottered along on their merry way, happy in the knowledge that bench marking satisfied their members, while the tax payer picks up the tab. The unions have congratulated themselves for ensuring a virtual stike free workplace over the last two decades,but look at the cost to this country, we have paid a kings ransom and have created monsters in the form of unelected, unnaccountable arrogant union leaders who themslves are on well over 100k per year each and have the temerity to threaten that if they dont get their own way, everyone will be sorry. I agree with the michael o leary approach to unions, which is to hold them in total contempt.

true, asking unions to decide allocation of nations resources is like asking bankers and developers to decide economic policy.

DrumSteve

i asked a simple question. Who could fill in for brian? Why is this gettin dragged into the same ****e about the unions and the government? I'm sure there are a million other threads you guys could argue in. I'm not trying to mod this thread by the way its just this arguement is gettin tired.

ninty9er

smcgiff wrote: »

Mary Harney possibly, but can imagine lots of ye chocking on your turkey sandwiches at that one

An independent? Are you serious? The only reason she's in Health is that she was the incumbent.

Rein-in wrote: »

Could Cowen relinquish his role as Taoiseach and retake Finance? Maybe he's the only one with a recent enough insight into finance. Then let someone else take the reins?

Yes, but being the leader of the party, there'd be a conflict of sorts with the person taking direction on certain matters from Cowen.

We're not quite in that situation yet but, if this were a discussion arising from an GE where Brian Lenihan hadn't been elected and the Minister for Finance was to be a returning FF TD;
There's
http://www.fiannafail.ie/people/niall-collins/
http://www.fiannafail.ie/people/sean-connick/
http://www.fiannafail.ie/people/john-curran/
http://www.fiannafail.ie/people/michael-kennedy/
http://www.fiannafail.ie/people/noel-treacy/

Niall and John are the only 2 I could speak of having met, and Niall would be the one who would do what is needed without regard to any interest group IMO.

Should it come to it, as a member of the party, I wouldn't be averse to letting someone like Richard Bruton at it.