On Tuesday night I wrote a post in preparation for the new Cabinet. Well one member of it. I had it nearly finished and saved ready to go after the announcement.
After the annoucement of the members of the cabinet today I didn’t publish it and thought about trashing it.
But there it is for some of you to laugh at and maybe some of you to agree with. I think and hope Joan Burton will make a great Minister for Social Protection. I don’t know what happened to prevent her being appointed to an economic portfolio. But I have a few ideas why. Lots of people despair at the number of women in politics and public life but nobody seems willing to do anything about it. And the Labour Party, the men in the Labour Party have shown that they are first in the do nothing queue.
Can I just say (yes I went there!) how pleased I am to see Joan Burton appointed as a senior Minister and one of the Ministers for Finance in the new cabinet. I have known her for over 20 years and have admired her tenacity and patience and genuine interest in people and ideas and not herself, but for the past two years that admiration has grown. Her stubborness and dedication to telling it like it is and pointing out the flaws of the policy of the last government was immense. She sought advice, talked to people at home and abroad, found out information on the bail out, led the opposition to it and tried to explain to everyone what was going on.
The spinning against her in recent months has been very obvious and the muscling in by some men in the Labour Party has also not gone unnoticed by many. I am sure I will not agree with many of the decisions she or her colleagues will make in the years to come but she is a strong passionate, intelligent woman who as Olivia O’Leary said yesterday sometimes gets it wrong. The difference is that Joan seems to get a lot more stick for doing the wrong thing than many men and has had to face a lot of unnamed sexism in opposition. There are far too few women in the new Dáil and only three women in Cabinet.
It’s a good day today to see a feminist appointed to the Cabinet. There will be horrible days ahead but for today I want to say well done and good luck.
(Link to Olivia O’Leary diary on Drive Time http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2011/pc/pod-v-4m53s080311drivetime-pid0-293496.mp3 )
She had no economic competence. Hence the right decision was made by keeping her out imo.
Am glad such a competent woman got a very important brief, but the content of your post is indisputable. Similarly the creation of a Department for Children is so welcome. Are we to assume though that FG’s only woman Minister has been given it because The Boys don’t want non-economic portfolios?
@Tadhg – Joan Burton is an accountant. She was the only Opposition spokesperson to call it correctly on the bailout and NAMA.
Well said. As you say, Burton led the opposition to the bailout and the guarantee. She was the best informed and most cogent of any TD in the Dáil when arguing against them. On many occasions she exposed Brian Lenihan for the dissembler that he is – she was the one person there that he was clearly nervous of – aware that she seemed to be the only who who was following the detail of the plot, or at least the only one prepared to call him out in in public about it. Sadly, she was never backed up by her own party in equal measure. She left the Fine Gael front bench looking downright foolish at times.
Spot on Suzyb,
Also I think the less we have towards talking down childrens and sw ministries the better.
A shafting was coming down the tracks for weeks and weeks, and all the usual unpleasantness with it.
Plenty of muscling no doubt but I think there was more in play then just boys v girls.
I fail to see what 3/4 of the FG cabinet can bring to the table other then backing the right horse last summer. We still have times for games it seems.
She won’t have much say either way but those relying on sw, you could do a lot worse then having JB in your corner.
I was shocked to hear the announcement of ministries yesterday. I really wanted JB in enterprise or finance. She’ll be great in SP of course but I agree with Olivia O Leary when it comes to the positions of the women in cabinet – nanny and housekeeper. It’s not surprising really given the ingrained sexism in Irish society and I shouldn’t have been shocked but it seems so blatant.
Spot on, Suzybie. I was shocked that she didn’t get an economic portfolio, but the writing was on the wall before yesterday, when Pat Rabittes name was the one at the top of the list. I think she’ll be a great SW Minister – it is an area that needs a complete overhauling, and needs somebody not afraid to say it like it is and make it work properly for those who most need it. I just hope she’s given her head.
And I agree that there was a lot of muscling in by the boys in Labour, and there is a perception out there that anything to do with SW or Children are ‘soft’ – they’re the touchy-feely ones. We need to continue pushing over the next 5 years to get more women involved in politics at grass roots level (assuming that they want to, of course – I don’t) and build from there so that come next election we have real choice. I am not a fan of quotas – I think they’re a last resort – but maybe we are at the place of last resorts.
Tadgh – you are surely being disingenuous, or stirring it, with your comment? The others have already said why you’re so utterly wrong in your assessment.
Yes I saw the look on her face too but it was Joan who fundamentally shaped the economy “optic” of this new government, with her inquisitive approach to FF’s failing on the banks, etc. I shan’t forget that anytime soon. I also hear the feminists here, and agree with them entirely, but ask people to also consider the positives on the SP appointment. (Might also add no gay men as ministers but ;-> )
I’m sure the Labour boys are after power cos its their last hurrah etc., but the clock is ticking for them. There’s a short window to delivery the bad news, and turn things around etc. They will become very unpopular, and Kenny has indicated there will be a reshuffle in 2013 when more changes will occur. Tick tock, tick tock boys!
One thing labour supporters can do is advocate that Labour women are given more senior ministerial roles before the next election. Also, as Gilmore might be out of the country a lot, you might see Joan having a more prominent role as Labour Dep Leader (de facto Tanaiste?)
While the post is not directly implicated in the EU/IMF stuff, I would argue that SP *is* an important economic ministry. Domestically, it supports the lives of the poor and those who have lost their jobs due to the almighty fecking up of the economy by FF/GP. You have no idea how unstable life has been, trying to anticipate the next cut in welfare, etc. under [enter name of FF nonentity SP minister here]. Since the PfG confirmed no more welfare cuts, i’ve actually had a few nights’ decent sleep… and I am deeply relieved that FG didn’t get (probably didn’t want) this portfolio.
Intelligent reform to the welfare system is much needed and you need a minister like Joan, with an eye for detail and policy, who can master these issues and change how services and supports are provided. Given how she dug deep to unravel the bank guarantee/ IMF etc issues, I’ve no doubt she’s gonna shine in SP.
And Tadgh, you’re on the wrong blog for trolling against women and labour women imo!
Joan Burton’s consistently forensic performance probably delivered far more Labour votes/transfers all round the country than either Howlin or Noonan (for FG) did. She is clearly more expert on finance and, given Noonan’s record on the Brigid McCole case, much less likely to cave in to civil servants or the orthodox way of doing things. If Gilmore gave in to FG lack of affection for her, he’s weak. if he actually chose Howlin over her, he’s plain wrong. It may well be sexist, but it’s also about Enda/Eamon making decisions emotionally rather than rationally. She is measurably the best person for the job.
I think it was JB’s ‘performance’ on #vinb last Jan that did a huge amount of damage to her career prospects.
Also, it was FG’s Noonan that queried Lenihan whether there was a liquidity or a solvency issue in the banks in Sep 08. That was the nub of the issue.
Joan Burton, whom I greatly admire, was denigrated because, as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, she would have been too much of a threat to all the higher paid public servants, slashing their pay and pensions.
Hearing on the airwaves that Michael Noonan related better to Brendan Howlin, and that was why JB was shafted, smacks of ‘personalities over the good of the country’.
Also, it’s interesting that Labour expressed an interest in the Agriculture portfolio during the Election Campaign but they didn’t get it. I knew they wouldn’t as Fine Gael is so in bed with really big farmers, who unbelievably receive massive CAP payments from the EU (to the tune of €100,000 plus per annum in brown envelopes), when in fact these subsidies should only be going to small and medium-sized farmers.
I did smile at your post, but it was wistful. The posturing was clear from a long time back. This isn’t a tightly knit ideological group of lefties with an all-for-one mentality. Granted, Joan did herself no favours when she had the #vinb meltdown with Joe Higgins, but that wouldn’t have mattered a whit to a unified group. Laughing like a Senior Infant on #vinb at the time of the Enda putsch attempt doesn’t seem to have harmed Richie Bruton in the meantime, does it? No, she was shafted plain and simple, and that just gave them a bit of leverage. Ho Chi would probably have been given it ahead of her, if it came to that. It’s all shite. In time to come some grouping up the road will do a Fergus Finlay with Joan and she’ll be brilliant at that, without all the stink that attaches to this level of gombeenism. I don’t know how else someone in her position could continue to deport themselves in a dignified way while working among such curs. That said, I share your hope that she can make a mark as Min for Soc Protection. They fucked up. They fucked her up, and they fucked themselves and us up. Remains to be seen beyond the week’s ‘optics’ as to whether that’ll be the routine.
Old style boys-in-the backroom stuff. Howlin is a classic spoofer who fits in well with his mate Rabbite.
Women in the cabinet, in the 31st Dáil and election candidate ratio « William Quill // Mar 10, 2011 at 14:33
[...] the unfortunate impression that they got soft female-friendly positions. There had been widespread assumption that Joan Burton, having been Labour Spokesperson on Finance, could expect the position of Public [...]
In human terms its like the guy who has all the romantic sweet and libertarian social positions talk but beats the crap out of his women anyway, because he’s absolved his conscience by being “right on” and “liberal.”
Being the only TD to raise the matter of certain quarters in IFSC breeching liquidity by 1900% is far more important then any meltdown on Vinb.
For some at least.
When you are in a hole stop digging // Mar 10, 2011 at 17:31
[...] RSS « Minister Burton [...]
Yes I don’t buy the vinb excuse – this stuff started before vinb, and as you say the difficulties that others have in media don’t seem to be held against them/him. She’ll be grand, and it will die down. I hope that certain cards are marked and and I hope the interest and concern of many will transfer into support for women in public life and more calling of the crap that comes out when competent and intelligent women are demoted/ignored or belittled.
Couple of points about this. Social Welfare while having a large budget is not a ministery you can make your name in so to speak unless: 1. you make / are allowed to make sweeping changes to the system. 2. you set up a major project within welfare that is proparly funded by the dept of Finance. In the present time there is very little time to increase or change the rates of welfare. The other fact about it is that she will have no control over FAS so the interaction between claimants and education will not come under remit.
The fact is this is noting to do with VinB. This is to do with the fact that she put her neck on the line re the banks while Howlin kept stum. She may well have been seen FG to upset the bankers a little too much. Also Gilmore probably put Howlin where he did in the hope that he could talk to the boys in the unions while he is reforming them. And lastly they are running scared from a strong woman not just Joan but Rosin Shortall. Shame on them.
Labour elected Gerry Ashe to take over Kevin Humpherys seat on DCC this evening… and Gerry is female…but I’m shocked that Joan is not in Finance where I think she should be.
Something overlooked as well in last few days was the vicious response from legal circles after the leaking of Maire Whelan’s name as incoming Attorney General.
Sam Smyths column on Wednesday gave free rein to anonymous comments questioning her experience.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/kenny-to-deliver-verdict-on-vital-new-ag-2571363.html
It would be highly unusual for a male candidate for AG’s resume to be questioned in such a way
Very happy for Gerry – she has mopped up enough messes and worked very hard over the years. Was Ruairi at the meeting by any chance?
“The spinning against her in recent months has been very obvious and the muscling in by some men in the Labour Party has also not gone unnoticed by many”
what muscling in, you do have to explain it you can’t just say “everybody knows”
I don’t think Joan deserves a place at the cabinet table. Not after her infamous performance on The Vincent Browne Show just before the election was called.
For the whole show (1.5 hours long!!) she’s behaved like a demented fishwife. When eventually challenged to let the other panellists speak she played the sexism card. She said she was being victimised because she was woman!! And the other guests who couldn’t get a word in edgeways obviously have problems with strong powerful women. She would not be silenced, “I am woman hear me roar, or words to that effect. Absolutely cringe making car crash television.
I was so disgusted that I wrote to the Labour Party to complain and indicated that I was unlikely to vote for Labour because of what I’d witnessed from their deputy leader. I got no reply from Labour. Any other party I contacted during the election campaign with policy issue queries got back to me promptly. I can only assume that Labour was snowed under with complaints.
After this Joan was kept hidden away for the rest of the campaign.
The truth is Joan is not popular with the public. The ‘Moan Burton’ parody from Aprés Match is now the reality. We expected our politicians to behave with dignity, especially in these difficult times.
Well done Mr Gilmore on demoting Joan. It’s just a shame you didn’t replace her with Kathleen Lynch or Jan O’Sullivan. Two highly competent and articulate deputies, who just happen to be women.
I thought and still do that Joan’s performance on vinb was outrageous but in the scheme of things it doesnt undermine her ability as a financial analyst and strategist. I do find the fact that she accused vinb of sexism merely because he tried to get her to come off her diva platform that night a bit rich when she cant name and shame her own party leader for what is obvious denigrating sexism. Howevre there’s another element to this job for the boys unjustifiable shite and its the fact that the ‘stick’ element of the labout party is making sure that it literally sticks together. When that underhanded little core in the labour party is finally elimnated either by the electorate or natural wastage- it will be a healthier labour party that emerges. And hopefully a more honest one.
VinB can be a biased and poor interviewer. Don’t think that was the problem though. I think there is a mindset there that “safe hands”=”middle aged male hands.”
Links | Clare Herbert // Mar 25, 2011 at 08:18
[...] On Joan Burton’s snub: Maman Poulet and Olivia O’Leary. [...]