Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

"Could you all just move to the left slightly?.." Fixed grins and Cabinet divisions at the Áras

You’d almost think the President had nothing better to do than hang around the house all day waiting for a busload of ministers.

THE DAY WAS beginning to feel its age by the time the Taoiseach rose to his feet to announce — or rather, confirm — the new look of the coalition’s front bench.

Talk of who would be going where in Cabinet had finally replaced the Garth Brooks controversy as the top story, as the morning’s news coverage began…

But as the day wore on, the nation began to wonder if a solution to that quagmire, massively unlikely though it seemed, might be achieved before we were told the final line-up of Enda and Joan’s New Faces of 2014.
10.30am came the word, first of all.

Then 11.

Then the expected announcement drifted to sometime around lunch…

And so it continued — by which juncture even people who cared less than a jot about it were fully up to speed on where the main jobs would be going, and there was only one thing left to figure out: just how upset was Pat Rabbitte?

But what about poor Michael D in all of this?…

Surely the President had better things to be doing than hanging around the house all day waiting for a busload of besuited interlopers?…

Not really, seemed to be the official line.

“It’s a moveable feast,” came the word from the Áras. (A metaphor, you understand — there would be no mini-sausage-rolls on offer).

The event

Not that there’d be much for the President to do at the ceremony anyway.

As is generally the case with this sort of thing, the main players would just have to make sure they wore their ‘State occasion’ faces and didn’t trip over any rugs.

Around twenty members of the fourth estate (reporters, camera-people and various hangers-on) were waiting in the impressive State Reception Room at the Áras by the time the word went out that the Cabinet bus was finally approaching.

“They’re all here,” someone called.

And here they were.

As staff cleared from the room, various doors sprung open and a collection of familiar and not-so-familiar figures strutted in to take up their places on opposite sides of the chamber in a manner not unlike a scene from West Side Story.

But why the primary school disco approach to proceedings?

Shouldn’t they all be lined up together — so we can at least figure out who’s tallest?

Well, no. It was ‘haves’ to the right, and ‘have nots’ to the left: in other words, the ministers who weren’t having any changes to their terms and conditions were on one side of the chamber, hanging back, to let the spotlight shine on their colleagues.

Before anyone could put their lámh out for a seal of office, however — there was still an essential bit of business to look after…

After that it was rug-tripping-over time.

Or not, as it turned out.

Nobody embarrassed themselves in the prize-giving-out ceremony as The Chosen Few crossed the room for a quick chat with the Pres and a pat on the back from Enda.

The newly-ordained ministers then crossed to join their colleagues, seals of office pressed to their palms (except for poor Ged Nash, who had to make do with a handshake: he’s not quite a full minister you see — though he is a Super Junior one).

Just a few formalities to go before everyone could get back on the bus. Most of which involved sitting down.

“Could you all just move to the left slightly,” a photographer politely asked, sparking a wide grin from an already delighted-looking Joan Burton as she lined up with her colleagues for the ‘family photo’.

Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

Then there was the small matter of the first Cabinet meeting… More of a photo-op than anything else — but at least everyone got to sit-down this time.

Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

Job done.

The afternoon’s schedule of walking around and sitting dealt with, it was time to leave Michael D in peace and head back to Government Buildings — to tackle the serious business of Government.

And deal with more questions about Garth Brooks.

Confirmed: Leo Varadkar is the new Health Minister, Pat Rabbitte dropped from Cabinet 

Rabbitte: If you’re deemed too old to serve in Cabinet you look at things differently 

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
14 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nakedcleanersireland.com
    Favourite Nakedcleanersireland.com
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 9:43 AM

    Has anyone else noticed that since this covid 19 started, that the weather has been amazing, the skies have been clearer and the water taste better

    160
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Logan Shepherd
    Favourite Logan Shepherd
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 10:37 AM

    @Nakedcleanersireland.com: Maybe this is Mother Natures way of putting us back in our box.

    65
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sharp Elsi Mate
    Favourite Sharp Elsi Mate
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 10:54 AM

    @Nakedcleanersireland.com: How’s business these days?

    29
    See 6 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Jones
    Favourite John Jones
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 10:57 AM

    @Nakedcleanersireland.com: Amazing weather??? It’s been cold. Lower than the average monthly temperature for March.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Francis Devenney
    Favourite Francis Devenney
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 10:57 AM

    @Nakedcleanersireland.com: Do you think the fact it’s spring might be a factor?

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Morrisey
    Favourite Mary Morrisey
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 11:13 AM

    @Nakedcleanersireland.com: It is the time of year for the weather to be like this. Maybe you’ve been too busy to notice those things before?

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Morrisey
    Favourite Mary Morrisey
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 11:24 AM

    @Logan Shepherd: I’ve learned I need to slow down and enjoy things more. Career change may be in order after this.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John fitzpatrick
    Favourite John fitzpatrick
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 11:27 AM

    @Nakedcleanersireland.com: as a golfer that went out in the bad weather and mud for 5 months, yes I noticed the last 5 weeks.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tommy Roche
    Favourite Tommy Roche
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 12:37 PM

    @Nakedcleanersireland.com: Really ? Lashed rain all day yesterday in the south-east.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John kavanagh
    Favourite John kavanagh
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 9:04 AM

    17 degrees,, yaaaay if I could only go out it would be great

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Morrisey
    Favourite Mary Morrisey
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 11:16 AM

    @John kavanagh: why can’t you get out?

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Quiet Goer
    Favourite Quiet Goer
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 9:18 AM

    Oh dear we will pay for this. Stand by for claims of the hottest April on record, mumbling about carbon tax from Fianma Gael, talk of banning turf and daysul

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard
    Favourite Richard
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 10:24 AM

    Think I will dust off the bbq and stock up on a few beers.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Justice Mickey
    Favourite Justice Mickey
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 10:40 AM

    @Richard:
    Now that sounds like a brilliant plan BBQ in the back garden, good ole bit of craic over the fence with the neighbours while social distancing.
    Gonna give the old BBQ a damn good scrubbing and text the neighbours..
    I’ll raise a glass to you Richard.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ThatLJD
    Favourite ThatLJD
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 10:44 AM

    @Justice Mickey: we’re still talking about an outdoor charcoal grill type cooking device here right, and not something else? You see where my confusion could’ve come from, you getting all excited, giving something a good scrubbing, messaging the neighbours! Or have I ‘swung’ to the wrong conclusion mate! Either way, enjoy it man!

    10
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Justice Mickey
    Favourite Justice Mickey
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 11:07 AM

    @ThatLJD:
    Hahaha, that’s 2 flipping great ideas on the same thread …
    *looking for my drill*

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Sullivan
    Favourite Jim Sullivan
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 11:48 AM

    @Justice Give the old drill a cleaning as well.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Matthew O'Kane ☘️✊
    Favourite Matthew O'Kane ☘️✊
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 9:04 AM

    Sounds like my drinking habits

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Judd
    Favourite John Judd
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 10:49 AM

    Biggest drop in Co2 emmissions since WW2, I have noticed bright sunny skies colder nights with less cloud coverage , maybe the climate change deniers can now stay quiet given that there is actual evidence to prove fewer car journeys, flights , indutries closing etc actial makes a difference .
    https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0403/1128226-fall-in-co2-emissions-could-be-greatest-since-ww2/

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Morrisey
    Favourite Mary Morrisey
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 11:19 AM

    @John Judd: No one denies climate change, only the affect humans have on it.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Em Gee
    Favourite Em Gee
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 11:02 AM

    Great. I might be able to leave the heating off for a bit longer and light the stove a bit later. It has been really cold this spring, I’m still wearing thermals and ski mid-layers indoors.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dara O'Brien
    Favourite Dara O'Brien
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 12:04 PM

    Beautiful weather for a run along the river this morning. Definitely time for the BBQ and I’ll try out my first batch of home brew cider while I’m at it – May as well, not much else to do at the moment I guess.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ger
    Favourite Ger
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 11:35 AM

    FFS

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Great Cornholio
    Favourite The Great Cornholio
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 10:39 AM

    throw on your shorts…

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Morrisey
    Favourite Mary Morrisey
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 11:21 AM

    @The Great Cornholio: here’s hoping lose wind levels will allow us to feel that glorious warmth.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Maximilian Wilde
    Favourite Maximilian Wilde
    Report
    Apr 6th 2020, 11:48 AM

    But, the weather is only sunny and nice 4km from my house at any given time. I can’t go more than 2km from my house. :)

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds