Enda Kenny so far.

iMax

Although I didn't vote FG (not FF for that matter), I have to say I'm impressed with Enda Kenny's first seven days in office.

There's been an actual air of something being done. Although the changes so far have been largely superficial, I think if it's kept up, he could be one hell of a statesman. Not something I thought just a week ago.

I would have been in the ABE crowd last week, but I'm keen to see how the first month, Three months, six months & year goes. I hope he doesn't disappoint.

From the first week, He has an opportunity to make real change in the country. I hope he seizes it & does the job. Credit where it's due.

sanbrafyffe

hes a long time in polotics.he knows the story.pity the ones before him in government didnt too

Coillte_Bhoy

I'm no FG'er or fan of Enda but tbh thought he did well in this interview on Bloomberg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCA_3NiwZ60&feature=player_embedded

ilovesleep

Thank goodness we got a new government in on time. Can you imagine Brian Cowen, once more in the white house, with obama, pigging on food all around him and wasted on guinness. Phew!

the groutch

well he's already breaking election promises (about reducing the number of junior ministers)
and there's still a sense on junketism with some of the paddy's day trips (sending a childrens minister to Australia, and a tourism minister to India )

so I'm not jumping for joy quite yet

professore

the groutch wrote: »

well he's already breaking election promises (about reducing the number of junior ministers)
and there's still a sense on junketism with some of the paddy's day trips (sending a childrens minister to Australia, and a tourism minister to India )

so I'm not jumping for joy quite yet

Firstly I was not an Enda fan either.

Being realistic about it no government has ever kept all it's promises - to be honest I don't expect them to and it's impossible in a coalition.

Some of these meetings are very valuable, I heard a very successful Irish businessman give a talk once and he stressed that having high level officials talk to foreign companies was a huge boost to him in dealmaking. They're not going to the Maldives, they are going to real countries with huge export opportunities.

There's only two issues at the moment and that's to reduce the debt burden and get people working. On these he is doing lots of positive stuff. The Obama meeting was excellent. The strong stance in the EU on corporation tax was excellent. I am also hopeful that Noonan is giving them the full details of how bad the bank situation is here and that we can't pay it back.

Maybe he's a doer and not a spoofer. We've had a bellyfull of the latter. Let's hope so. Oh and the garda driver, ministerial salary cuts and state car changes send out the right message.

Joey the lips

I think enda is coming across well so far...


But....he...looks.....like....he....is.....reading...from...a....script.


He needs to be a little more natural to be more believable..

SupaNova

But....he...looks.....like....he....is.....reading...from...a....script.

Meh don't have a problem with this, people prepare for interviews and how they will answer questions. As long as what he is saying is the right thing, and he is acting on what he is saying.

bamboozle

the groutch wrote: »

well he's already breaking election promises (about reducing the number of junior ministers)
and there's still a sense on junketism with some of the paddy's day trips (sending a childrens minister to Australia, and a tourism minister to India )

so I'm not jumping for joy quite yet

hard to please some people, he's cut ministerial pay, introduced a new minister for reform of public service, overhauled the crazy system of gardai drivers for ministers reduced the number of minister travelling abroad for St. Patricks' day from 22 to 8 yet some people are still not happy.

For what its worth, Oz has a huge number of recently emigrated irish people, India is one of the 'BRIC' nations a huge economy growing at a fast pace, plus the minister sent there is of indian decent (Leo Veradker) who may hopefully be able to muster up some friends in indian govt for Ireland.

The Waltzing Consumer

the groutch wrote: »

well he's already breaking election promises (about reducing the number of junior ministers)
and there's still a sense on junketism with some of the paddy's day trips (sending a childrens minister to Australia, and a tourism minister to India )

so I'm not jumping for joy quite yet

The bill is going to be way way down from previous years. Only 8 ministers travelled compared with 22 the previous year. They were also staying in embassies instead of hotels. When some of the biggest countries in the world celebrate a tiny islands national day, you would be a fool for not utilising this opportunity.

But there will always be people who will complain about anything, they would protest the rain if they could :rolleyes:

Corkblowin

Varadkar going to India could potentially be as important as Enda in the US - it's got huge potential for growth. So the son of an Indian doctor becoming a government minister & travelling to a country where an Irish team is making a name for itself & gaining respect in their national sport can only be good for the profile of the country.

I too am impressed with Enda so far - yes the changes so far have been small, but that's how you have to start - like the old joke, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Pete_Cavan

the groutch wrote: »

well he's already breaking election promises (about reducing the number of junior ministers)

First of all, on the number of junior ministers, that was not an election promise, it was a comment he made two years ago!

Secondly, if the people wanted FG to deliver on their election promises, they would have voted in a FG majority, giving them a mandate to implement their policies. The people did not do this, they voted in a FG Lab coalition government, giving the parties a mandate to compromise on their election manifestos to create a programme for government. You cant complain about FG, or Lab for that matter, breaking election promises when they were not given a mandate to act on these promises.

Amtmann

This is an interview he did in the US the day before yesterday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCA_3NiwZ60

He's extremely presentable, confident, polite, articulate, and comes across as having a mastery of detail. In short, he's statesmanlike. Far more so than his two predecessors.

Enda Kenny has made a stupendous start so far.

zig

tbh its a relief watching the leader of your country presenting himself well on the international scene, I think the strong confident personality can have a genuine effect on foreign investment

ednwireland

quite impressed with this as well

SEVERAL ministers opted to stay in embassies rather than hotels to cut down on the cost of St Patrick's Day trips.

The cost of ministerial travel and accommodation in previous years was more than €500,000 but this year's bill is expected to be well down.

Social Welfare Minister Joan Burton; Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton; Children's Minister Frances Fitzgerald; Education Minister Ruairi Quinn; and Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney have shunned hotels in favour of embassies and official residences of Irish ambassadors.

Staying in the residence of an ambassador or in the embassy carries no extra cost to the taxpayer.

Mr Coveney is staying in the ambassador's residence in Paris, Mr Bruton in the ambassador's home in Berlin and Ms Fitzgerald in the ambassador's house in Sydney. Ms Burton stayed in the London embassy, while Mr Quinn was at the residence of the ambassador in Rome.

The move follows controversies down through the years over ministers staying in five-star hotels, travelling in limos and on first-class air tickets.

But the new Government has clamped down on such extravagant treatment, with cabinet members travelling without spouses and with just one civil servant in tow.

In some cases, ministers have travelled with low-cost airline Ryanair.

The Taoiseach and eight ministers travelled to eight countries for the St Patrick's Day festivities -- compared with last year when 22 cabinet and junior ministers travelled to 24 countries.

lets just hope it lasts eh

murphaph

People complaining about actual ministers and the Taoiseach because they make use of a free marketing day for our country are barmy. Other small states (and plenty big ones) would give their right arm for a day like St. Patrick's day.

The issues of the past were issues of EXCESS, taking the wife, 10 civil servants, all getting 5 star treatment at the expense of the taxpayer.

This is totally different-8 high ranking ministers and ONE civil servant, no spouses. This is showing the respect that the Irish public deserve and I for one congratulate the new government and Enda Kenny in particular for this.

I myself criticised him before the election but I was wrong. He does carry himself very well and is FAR more statesmanlike (yes, this is important when confidence in your country has been shaken) than many of his predecessors going back quite some years. I genuinely wish him and the government well in all that they have to do now. His pro-business stance is impressive, but he needs to make changes to the law to make it easier to start (and to fail) in business.

It's refreshing also to see a fit, healthy looking man run our country, not an overweight slob that would otherwise be propping up the local bar.

oppenheimer1

iMax wrote: »

Although I didn't vote FG (not FF for that matter), I have to say I'm impressed with Enda Kenny's first seven days in office.

There's been an actual air of something being done. Although the changes so far have been largely superficial, I think if it's kept up, he could be one hell of a statesman. Not something I thought just a week ago.

I would have been in the ABE crowd last week, but I'm keen to see how the first month, Three months, six months & year goes. I hope he doesn't disappoint.

From the first week, He has an opportunity to make real change in the country. I hope he seizes it & does the job. Credit where it's due.

I think Enda is doing well so far. He spoke very eloquently in the White House yesterday. It was a good advertisement for the country.

dan_d

He'll fail miserably if he's holding out for universal popularity anyway.
Having said that, he's coming across better than I expected. Actions speak louder than words mind you, and so far his actions have been middle of the road bordering on fairly ok. But 8 days is hardly anything to by anyway (especially when one of those days is St Patrick's Day)

the culture of deference

I watched Enda on the sky news report with Obama, and he came accross as an excellent and equal statesman, and he was far more articulate and human looking than Cowen ever did/was.

I did think he was about to shed tears of happiness when Obama announced it, watch the reply, he was so proud.

Well done Enda. The apprenticeship you have served stands to you.

Sugarfree

the groutch wrote: »

well he's already breaking election promises (about reducing the number of junior ministers)
and there's still a sense on junketism with some of the paddy's day trips (sending a childrens minister to Australia, and a tourism minister to India )

so I'm not jumping for joy quite yet

I see dont send the Minister for Transport, tourism and sport to India when he is of Indian Heritage and is currently trying to bring massive investment from India into Ireland, a project that might actually make T2 at Dublin airport slightly more viable.


http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/air-india-may-consider-dublin-airport-as-its-new-hub/articleshow/7732192.cms

kippy

the culture of deference wrote: »

I watched Enda on the sky news report with Obama, and he came accross as an excellent and equal statesman, and he was far more articulate and human looking than Cowen ever did/was.

I did think he was about to shed tears of happiness when Obama announced it, watch the reply, he was so proud.

Well done Enda. The apprenticeship you have served stands to you.

His interview on the news from Washington was also very good - very honest (I believe) seemed to be open and frank and in fairness, now maybe I cant remember, but I dont think Cowen ever did an interview as long from Washington with the news provider over here.

He is definetly coming across very open, honest, eager to do the right thing.
Just as an aside, Varadkars trip to India could be as important as any and looks to have been a very strategic move.

smcgiff

'"Dublin is one of the final two airports that Air India has zeroed in on and will shortly take a call on it," Varadkar, the first Indian origin person to be part of the Irish government, added. '

Gold

Enda's playing a blinder. Good joke too the way he brought up the apostrophe

gandalf

Jaysus if Varadkars trip bears fruit how many jobs will that secure in Dublin Airport. It will also make us far more attractive to Indian business people as well.

Very impressed with Enda's performance so far as well and agreed that he does indeed look very statesmanlike in the interviews from Washington. A definite improvement on the previous two gombeens.

Sugarfree

gandalf wrote: »

Jaysus if Varadkars trip bears fruit how many jobs will that secure in Dublin Airport. It will also make us far more attractive to Indian business people as well.

Very impressed with Enda's performance so far as well and agreed that he does indeed look very statesmanlike in the interviews from Washington. A definite improvement on the previous two gombeens.

200-300 I read some where.

zig

I have to admit, despite not voting FG he looked well with Obama, he matched him as a leader in terms of composure and confidence. I remember looking at Cowen and thinking he looked like a little lick arse pet of Obamas.

Son Of A Vidic

He has surprised me so far I have to say and I'm not a FG voter. kenny does seem quite comfortable on the international stage in his new role. Cowen however, used to make me cringe because he always looked out of place and flustered. Christ, his suits didn't even fit him right and in politics image, appearance and the perception it creates can be half the battle.

iMax

I come back to this thread again, once again to praise Enda Kenny & No, I'm still not an FG Voter.

In the last week he has surpassed expectations. We finally have a statesman we can be proud of. A world class politician. Well done sir.

wylo

the only criticism I find is that his body language seems very fake when around Obama. I cant put my finger on it but when hes sitting down with him etc its sort of like hes trying to be too calm and composed

Killer Pigeon

wylo wrote: »

the only criticism I find is that his body language seems very fake when around Obama. I cant put my finger on it but when hes sitting down with him etc its sort of like hes trying to be too calm and composed

He tries to copy Obama - his election campaign, Fine Gael's election website, etc.. resembled Obama's election campaign. Kenny's speech today was probably written while watching Obama's speeches. He loves Obama, he organised an advert campaign for Obama's visit. It's all a bit false:

kippy

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

He tries to copy Obama - his election campaign, Fine Gael's election website, etc.. resembled Obama's election campaign. Kenny's speech today was probably written while watching Obama's speeches. He loves Obama, he organised an advert campaign for Obama's visit. It's all a bit false:

To be completely honest, I'd rather see one of our politicians try emulate someone like Obama who has tried his hardest to make things better and attempt to clean up the mess that this country is in.
If the last two numbskulls did the same we'd be in epic shape.

Of course it's all a bit false - isn't almost all of that kinda ****e? But it's whats actioned thats real, what effects people.
No doubt many will believe that the speeches today are the start of a recovery, they are idiots. The recovery and change happens as a result of actions based on the meetings that took place today behind closed doors.

Zimmerframe

wylo wrote: »

its sort of like hes trying to be too calm and composed

Maybe he's just lacking in the arrogance of his recent predecessors.

wylo

Zimmerframe wrote: »

Maybe he's just lacking in the arrogance of his recent predecessors.

true, dont get me wrong, when I saw a flash of Cowen today on the telly when Obama was in moneygall I thought it would ruin the whole occasion but thank God they swiftly changed cameras.

One thing I do have to say though, Ive never appreciate Mcaleese so much as I have the past week or so, so cool and so natural, meeting Obama seemed like nothing to her in terms of testing her confidence, she may as well have been meeting her own brother or sister.
What a legend!

iMax

President McAleese has rounded off her term in a way that could only have been dreamed of. She's raised the bar for anyone wanting to run for the park.

rebel without a clue

enda rocks my world. he causes sensations in certain parts of my body that i thought would never happen again, after james may. enda is my new "no-strings".:D;)

Pandora2

Is Ray D'Arcy still in Country?? Sick for him!!:D

Inverse to the power of one!

iMax wrote: »

President McAleese has rounded off her term in a way that could only have been dreamed of. She's raised the bar for anyone wanting to run for the park.

Er.....as a ceremonial wheel out that's fit for the odd visit.....maybe but she loses points for not having Bono and the Delai lama juggling chainsaws....

Seriously, she has done nothing during her tenure to either change or improve the scope of the office, add to that she rubber stamped everything without challenge that was sent from the Dail, including the bailout legislation.

Her lack of oversight would be criminally negligent but for the office and it's historic lack of importance.

We need a president that sees the Aras as more then just a plush retirement home!

wylo

Inverse to the power of one! wrote: »

Er.....as a ceremonial wheel out that's fit for the odd visit.....maybe but she loses points for not having Bono and the Delai lama juggling chainsaws....

Seriously, she has done nothing during her tenure to either change or improve the scope of the office, add to that she rubber stamped everything without challenge that was sent from the Dail, including the bailout legislation.

Her lack of oversight would be criminally negligent but for the office and it's historic lack of importance.

We need a president that sees the Aras as more then just a plush retirement home!

Her job is to not sign a bill that is not constitutional, there'd be problems if our presidents just started picking and choosing what they wanted to pass based on their own opinions, thats what the Dail is for, the people we vote.

And also, she did call a meeting regarding the bailout legislation, it may not have been a challenge, but she still didnt pass it lightly.

Pandora2

Inverse to the power of one! wrote: »

Er.....as a ceremonial wheel out that's fit for the odd visit.....maybe but she loses points for not having Bono and the Delai lama juggling chainsaws....

Seriously, she has done nothing during her tenure to either change or improve the scope of the office, add to that she rubber stamped everything without challenge that was sent from the Dail, including the bailout legislation.


I actually gave her bonus points for ensuring that Bono was not around:D

Also, getting on a bit but I'm nearly sure she refused to sign retrospective legislation to make Nursing Home charges legal.....and sent Mary Harney to the Supreme Court, mind you that might just have been a personal thing between the 2 Mary's:D

bonzos

Pandora2 wrote: »

Is Ray D'Arcy still in Country?? Sick for him!!:D

Ray DArcy had Willie ODea(remember him) on his radio show laughing and joking while a listener played with his mustache....he also had very little negative to say about FF at the time despite every dog on the street knowing that they had made a balls out of our country! Then he decides that he dislikes Kenny so much that he will leave the country????how anyone could rate Kenny bellow Cowan who came on a radio show half drunk at a time when 450k people were unemployed is beyond me. What more the disgraceful conduct of his Gov Mary Hanafin"he has nasal problems",Brian Len "there is no bailout", John ODonoghue(say no more:rolleyes:),Mary O'Rourke,Noel Dempsey etc...really makes me wonder whats his agenda

Pandora2

bonzos wrote: »

Ray DArcy had Willie ODea(remember him) on his radio show laughing and joking while a listener played with his mustache....he also had very little negative to say about FF at the time despite every dog on the street knowing that they had made a balls out of our country! Then he decides that he dislikes Kenny so much that he will leave the country????how anyone could rate Kenny bellow Cowan who came on a radio show half drunk at a time when 450k people were unemployed is beyond me. What more the disgraceful conduct of his Gov Mary Hanafin"he has nasal problems",Brian Len "there is no bailout", John ODonoghue(say no more:rolleyes:),Mary O'Rourke,Noel Dempsey etc...really makes me wonder whats his agenda

Could it be that his people and their people before that have voted for the Soldiers of destiny since the foundation of the State? That's normally the excuse:D

Inverse to the power of one!

wylo wrote: »

Her job is to not sign a bill that is not constitutional, there'd be problems if our presidents just started picking and choosing what they wanted to pass based on their own opinions, thats what the Dail is for, the people we vote.

Agreed the mandate is to protect the Constitution, but the office is also one of oversight for the law of the land as passed by the Dail and my opinion backed up by presidential history is that the office has degenerated in to a that of mere Commissioners for Oaths. With regard to potential problems, seem's plenty of other countries have presidential oversight without problem.

wylo wrote: »

And also, she did call a meeting regarding the bailout legislation, it may not have been a challenge, but she still didnt pass it lightly.

Mea Culpa, should have said the bank guarantee and all related acts. As for the meeting called, the ECB and the IMF were back on the plane home by the time she bothered asking any questions.

Denerick

I have to say Enda Kenny has grown on me. I once thought of him as a halfwit, but now I see him as the likable uncle. He mightn't have the intellect of Bruton but he has humility, resolve, and a genuinely good nature. Frankly I like him.

K-9

iMax wrote: »

President McAleese has rounded off her term in a way that could only have been dreamed of. She's raised the bar for anyone wanting to run for the park.

Great ambassador for Irish tourism has to be said. Very friendly and empathetic and seems to make people at ease.

kev9100

I'm still not a FG voter and most likely never will, but Kenny has grown on me. Compared to Cowen he's the messiah

wylo

kev9100 wrote: »

I'm still not a FG voter and most likely never will, but Kenny has grown on me. Compared to Cowen he's the messiah

compared to Cowen, I am actually God himself

Foxhound38

I never have and never will vote FG, and had no faith in his abilities prior to and during the General Election, but has surprised me pleasantly over the last few weeks since he took office. He has an air of integrity and honesty about him, which is a nice change compared to the last 2 muppets to hold the office. I doubt he'll get it right anywhere approaching 100% of the time, but at least I get the feeling that he's a man trying to do his best for the country, without ulterior motives as such, and that is a quality I can respect in a politician.

rebel without a clue

Foxhound38 wrote: »

He has an air of integrity and honesty about him, which is a nice change compared to the last 2 muppets to hold the office. I doubt he'll get it right anywhere approaching 100% of the time, but at least I get the feeling that he's a man trying to do his best for the country, without ulterior motives as such, and that is a quality I can respect in a politician.

i agree with you there. sometimes he can have an awkward look about him and not look natural but i can forget that if he can be seen to be doing his best and putting the interests of the country first.

Godge

iMax wrote: »

President McAleese has rounded off her term in a way that could only have been dreamed of. She's raised the bar for anyone wanting to run for the park.

Agree completely and what worries me is that there are no declared candidates out there who would give me the same confidence. Michael D. and David Norris would be too interested in talking about themselves to listed to what a foreign dignitary might say. John Bruton comes across too often as a country bumpkin. Failed TD candidates who became MEPS (Crowley, McGuinness) why are they suitable? Campaigners who run the risk of becoming associated with their campaigns rather than the post of President (Mary Davis, Fergus Finlay) don't do enough for me either.

Even if you look beyond that motley group, there is nobody who stands out.

dell1211

Godge wrote: »

Agree completely and what worries me is that there are no declared candidates out there who would give me the same confidence. Michael D. and David Norris would be too interested in talking about themselves to listed to what a foreign dignitary might say. John Bruton comes across too often as a country bumpkin. Failed TD candidates who became MEPS (Crowley, McGuinness) why are they suitable? Campaigners who run the risk of becoming associated with their campaigns rather than the post of President (Mary Davis, Fergus Finlay) don't do enough for me either.

Even if you look beyond that motley group, there is nobody who stands out.

Out of that list I think McGuinness would be best.

dell1211

Getting a bit off topic but what is the reason for having a limit on the number of terms? In fariness the president cant do too much damage. I think given our current circumstances we could do without the expense of a presidential election and allow Mary Mac to go for a third term

steelcityblues

Godge wrote: »

Agree completely and what worries me is that there are no declared candidates out there who would give me the same confidence. Michael D. and David Norris would be too interested in talking about themselves to listed to what a foreign dignitary might say. John Bruton comes across too oen as a country bumpkin.ft Failed TD candidates who became MEPS (Crowley, McGuinness) why are they suitable? Campaigners who run the risk of becoming associated with their campaigns rather than the post of President (Mary Davis, Fergus Finlay) don't do enough for me either.

Even if you look beyond that motley group, there is nobody who stands out.

Have you ever met a real country bumpkin?

They certainly didn't go to UCD or the Kings Inns, lol!

But the post certainly attracts too much of a motley crue, I agree.