Shuffling the Juniors, cont’d

Note for inevitable future reference that Bertie’s ministerial reshuffle today makes absolutely no pretense at picking the best qualified people for the job. Not only is Mary Wallace’s promotion made with a view to her seat in Meath East, as noted in the previous post, but Pat The Cope Gallagher is extricated from a difficult job at fisheries in a fisheries-dependent constituency, just as the industry is having a renewed round of EU troubles. As the Irish Times breaking news puts it (subs. req’d):

[John Browne] replaces Mr Gallagher, who was under electoral pressure in Donegal because of the Government’s determination to impose criminal penalties on fishermen who break fishery laws.

Fine Gael’s marine spokesman John Perry was scornful about the decision to move Mr Gallagher away from a policy area where the Government’s failure to implement EU directives could lead to Ireland being fined millions of euros.

“Despite his insistence within Donegal that he would fight hard for the fishing industry, [Mr Gallagher] has let down fishermen from not only his own constituency, but fishermen from throughout the country,” Mr Perry said.

Is it that for ministerial jobs, skills are not needed, or not required?