Bertie's Fiefdom

It is well that the maximum number of senior ministers is specified in our constitution. If that were not so, I have absolutely no doubt that Bertie Ahern would swell the ranks of senior positions in order to placate a bigger group of his FF deputies.

Mr Ahern sees constitutional limitations on government as an annoying inconvenience that stops him getting on with his job after his own fashion.  Currently, the law states that there can be 17 junior ministers, but, as that's not quite enough for Bertie, he will change that law immediately.  Conventions, such as the manner in which the Dáil is dissolved or new positions announced, are set aside willy-nilly.  In other words, Bertie will govern with his own system, not the one that previous generations have honed.  He has had the run of the place now for a decade and has been returned to office.  Like many leaders who are given a long run at the helm, Bertie is starting to treat the whole apparatus of government like his own little fiefdom: to hell with tradition, he will do as he pleases.  This is precisely why it is so depressing that a coherent and credible alternative did not emerge to take the reins of power, at least for a while.