FF/FG/Green Government - Part 3 - Threadbanned User List in OP

Public transport cost is not the problem, most people are lazy and it is easier to use a car

The bus corridors, with bus lane enforcement will improve and make the system quicker and more viable for people. The biggest issues with buses at the moment is the amount of people who use the bus lanes. Remove them and a quicker service

Making the service free now will not improve it and will end up with reduced investment.

They are already coming

https://www.transportforireland.ie/news/record-highs-for-public-transport-passenger-numbers-in-2023/

Shocking that you don't agree with the appointment, I was fully expecting this thread after thousands of critical posts abotu the government would welcome him with open arms

It's gone a bit like "cry wolf" at this stage on this thread

When every single thing the government does it met with negativity etc then it's just pointless looking to the thread for any sort of reasonable discussion.

Very strange for a first full cabinet ministry. He was only super junior until now. Why not start him off in a less complex portfolio?

+1

Minister for Finance is arguably the most important position in cabinet. The minister should realistically either have strong academic qualifications (multiple degrees in finance/economics), extensive leadership experience in the private sector (senior management positions in large companies) or at the very least lots of ministerial experience (multiple years running less difficult/important briefs like Enterprise or Tourism where they've learnt the ropes and shown they're up to running a department). Or ideally a combination of all three.

This move reeks of Martin wanting Chambers to be his successor as FF leader so moving Chambers up the ranks far too rapidly.

see above- academia is all very well but he has little real life experience - had he a PhD in economics with a few years of lecturing behind him I might actually respect this appointment more - he needed a few years more to get to grips with understand and address the economic concepts that ultimately make a great finance minister - there’s no way he has that knowledge right now given he only finished medicine in 2020

it makes loads of sense, when talking about the most senior and most important role in cabinet right now - Even John Bruton who was 34 on 1982 when finance minister had 10 years of political life under his belt and exposure to many departments - and we all know how his 1981 budget turned out now don’t we 🤪

Agree and also- he HAS to have an economic strategy that he can articulate to the public - we have so many challenges economically right now, both the markets and the public need reassurance that he’s in control and on top of this portfolio- out of all the ministries, this one doesn’t come with a honeymoon period - you deliver or you’re out - it’s the one ministry that people will remember come election time

I clearly stated above what his last degree was- and being Deputy Mayor in 2015 is hardly a major CV achievement for Finance Minister now is it- and considering he’s been studying medicine up to 2020 hardly a 10 years in politics career?
But obviously you love him - good luck so with the next budget and the economy if that’s the sort of person you’re willing to place your economic future with

To be fair to Chambers, look at the Taoiseach. No qualifications, no work experience outside of politics, incompetent in all but excelling in his career, which must be commended based on what he's working with.

Sure see how he goes, he can't be any worse than Helen McEntee, Catherine Martin or Darragh O'Brien.

Some premier league line up when you look at it 😁

I don't know what Dara Calleary but whatever it was Martin hasn't forgiven him. He might have been a more obvious appointment as he was the Opposition spokesperson for Expenditure and reform from 2016 - 2018 but for some reason was dumped by Martin when forming the government even after being FF chief negotiator. He has been a TD since 2007 so has experience and was Chief Whip as well until golf gate. But alas Chambers seems to be the rising star now.

A lot of politicians over the years have had to deal with grave economic matters without much background in the field, including Chambers's own political 'forefather' Briain Lenihan Jr. Apparently David McWilliams had to sit Lenihan down and explain the basics of economics to him when he came to McWillians for advice on how to handle the brewing financial crisis. Barack Obama round the same time was another guy with no specific business/economics expertise…

We don't appoint technocratic governments, we elect TDs, who select a Minister, that is democracy. We have had plenty of people getting into the Dail who are not qualified for any job. As much as I don't like it on occasion, it is what the people have voted for.

Ray MacSharry, widely considered to be one of our best Finance Ministers had no third-level education, and ended up a European Commissioner.

I think you are just making things up to have a go at the government.

Yep- it’s obvious to you and me also - to some here, it’s just like another portfolio like Minister for Sausage rolls

If you think telling a poster they love him is not childish well then I don't really know

As you can't provide a single alternative in any party in Ireland, government or opposition, it would suggest another in a long line of poster who no matter what the government does they will just whinge about it