Kenny set to up his game at reshuffle

Kenny set to up his game at reshuffle


Áine Ryan

WHETHER Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach-to-be, Enda Kenny resorted to backhanders during his mixed tennis doubles game with MLA and former professional player, Caitríona Ruane in Castlebar last Sunday is matterless now.
Clearly, the Sinn Féin and Fine Gael deputies were well beaten by their local authority counterparts, Cllrs, Thérèse Ruane and Harry Barrett.
In fact, according to Cllr Ruane, Kenny was more adept at diving and ducking than hitting the ball during a competition that left her older sister and the former Islandeady midfielder hobbling off the court, defeated, with a score of 6-2.
“I must say it was great fun even though Enda managed to injure himself during a dramatic dive when I was hitting a shot down the line. You know I reckon now Sinn Féin and Labour would make a great coalition!” Cllr Ruane told The Mayo News last night. 
While Kenny’s tactical manoeuvrings at the new state-of-the-art Castlebar courts at Lough Lannagh didn’t quite achieve game, set and match, next Thursday’s reshuffle is expected to see him at his choreographic best.
Stability and balance between the cappuccino set and the old guard is set to be prioritised as the best way forward towards the 2012 General Election.
Unsurprisingly, Kenny has remained tightlipped about his new shadow frontbench but speculations is rife that Richard Bruton will be returned to an economic portfolio. By all accounts, however, it is veteran bruiser, and Limerick East TD, Michael Noonan, that will be given the Finance portfolio.
Mayo’s Michael Ring, who was firmly in Kenny’s corner during the botched coup, has also been named as a possible contender for promotion to Social Protection.
Speaking to The Mayo News last night, Deputy Ring said: “Appointments to the front bench are Enda’s decision. I am happy where I am and if I am moved to another portfolio on the frontbench I will be happy there.”
Deputy Ring is currently shadow spokesman for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, the ministry to which Pat Carey was moved during the government reshuffle some months ago.
Other winners, in the wake of the failed coup, are possibly Deirdre Clune (daughter of party elder, Peter Barry) who may be promoted at the expense of constituency colleague, Simon Coveney. Roscommon-South and Leitrim Deputy Frank Feighan is expected to replace renegade Denis Naughton, who led the charge onto the plinth two weeks ago, on Tuesday, June 15.
Fine Gael is again buoyed up by last weekend’s Red C opinion poll, where it showed an increase in support, up three points to 33 per cent. Labour, however, continued to be the biggest winner, gaining its biggest ever increase of five points, to 27 per cent.
The government parties continue to lag behind, with Fianna FΡil remaining at 24 per cent and the Greens down three points to two per cent.