Irish Election are pleased to announce our collection of Irish 
Brennan jumps before he’s pushed
Read more about: Uncategorized
Seamús Brennan has informed Brian Cowen that he won’t be putting himself forward for the incoming Taoiseach’s cabinet following speculation that he was for the chop in tomorrow’s reshuffle.
Legend has it that Brennan was not supposed to even be in Bertie Ahern’s cabinet of 2007 but he saved himself by taking the lead in the negotiations with The Green Party. At that time, it is believed, Ahern made clear that he would only make it to the mid-term reshuffle of 2009 and then his time would well and truly be up.
Brennan’s reason for stepping aside is apparently as a result of his recent health problems, however he has put himself forward for any future potential jobs - domestic or European.
At the very least he is jumping now to save himself the embarrassed of being pushed - but is he hoping that by making Cowen’s calculations a little easier he’ll be rewarded with a cushy number in Brussels?
A pity.
Brennan had far more ability than many in Cabinet, such as Messrs. Cullen (a disaster); Martin (failed utterly to stem waste in Health); Hanafin (all talk & no do); O’Rourke (what can one say - look at Luas & the sale of Telecom).
But Brennan, an intelligent University graduate, had the temerity to confront Begg; O’Connor; Halpenny and de Bert’s best sandals & beards in the Unions.
Which meant that he had to go - like Charlie McCreevy.
He also wanted change - anathema to Fianna Fail - who have been walking backwards into the future every Easter Sunday since they splintered away from Sinn Fein.
He would be good in Europe, if his health holds.
Good luck boy.
The man is very seriously ill at the moment. Try to have some human decency.
Colm is right, Brennan is seriously ill and has been for a while now. Best wishes to him at the moment, the decision to retire has not been an easy one.
I wasn’t aware that he was seriously ill - from what I’ve read of the letter he was seriously ill and has been told to lighten his load in order to recover properly.
This thing about someone being ill is very confusing in that no one is supposed to mention it because there is no corroboration from the person themselves that they are seriously ill, but it then gets repeatedly invoked when it is suits some supporters to prevent even the mildest discussion of their job performance or prospects. You can’t have it both ways Colm.