More work for Calleary in Cabinet reshuffle

More work for Mayo’s Calleary in Government Cabinet reshuffle


Edwin McGreal

The Cabinet reshuffle announced this afternoon has seen a lot more work landed in the lap of Mayo TD Dara Calleary.
Already a Minister for State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (now renamed Enterprise, Trade and Innovation) with special responsibility for Labour Affairs, Calleary will keep that role while also becoming a Minister of State at both the Department of the Taoiseach and at the Department of Finance.
This is, according to Taoiseach Brian Cowen, ‘to strengthen the political leadership of the change process, under the direction of the Cabinet Committee on Public Service Transformation’.
In layman’s terms Cowen is setting up a Public Service Board to push through reform in this very volatile area. Dara Calleary is being handed the considerable task of implementing much of this change.
The Ballina-based Fianna FΡil TD has not been appointed to Cabinet but it is arguable that he will be busier than many of his Cabinet superiors with the three roles that have been left under his command.
Dara Calleary was first elected to DΡil Eireann in May, 2007 and was appointed a Minister of State in April, 2009. His father, SeΡn, was a Minister of State in a number of departments at various periods from 1979 until 1992. His grandfather, Phelim, was also a TD.