Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUBLIN1068
2006-09-14 15:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Dublin
Cable title:
JUSTICE MINISTER APPOINTED DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
how-toVZCZCXRO3497 RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ DE RUEHDL #1068 2571549 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 141549Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY DUBLIN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7460 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES RUEHBL/AMCONSUL BELFAST 0449 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
UNCLAS DUBLIN 001068
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EI
SUBJECT: JUSTICE MINISTER APPOINTED DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Ref: Dublin 1044
UNCLAS DUBLIN 001068
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EI
SUBJECT: JUSTICE MINISTER APPOINTED DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Ref: Dublin 1044
1. (U) On September 13, Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Bertie Ahern
appointed as Deputy Prime Minister (Tanaiste) the new leader of the
Progressive Democrats (PD) party and current Minister for Justice,
Equality and Law Reform, Michael McDowell. (In Ireland, the leader
of the minority party in a coalition government, such as the current
Fianna Fail-PD coalition, is usually appointed Tanaiste, although
this is not constitutionally required.) McDowell took over
unopposed as PD leader on September 11, following the unexpected
resignation of Mary Harney, who had been PD leader for nearly 13
years and Tanaiste for 9 (reftel). McDowell avoided a possibly
divisive leadership election campaign within the PD party when he
offered potential rival candidates key positions within the party
hierarchy in return for their support. Just as McDowell will retain
his portfolio as Justice Minister, Harney will remain Minister for
Health and Children. Following his selection as party leader,
McDowell stated that the PDs would remain in government with Fianna
Fail and carry forward the coalition's program of government through
the remainder of its term until the expected spring 2007 general
elections.
McDowell's Bio
--------------
2. (SBU) McDowell hails from a political family, and his
grandfather, in fact, was Ireland's first education minister.
McDowell is himself an attorney by profession and first came to
prominence in 1985 when he left the Fine Gael party to join Mary
Harney in founding the Progressive Democrats. He was first elected
to the Irish parliament (Dail) in 1987, lost his seat in 1989,
regained it in 1992, and lost it again in 1997. McDowell became
Attorney General in 1999, and, after reclaiming his Dail seat in the
2002 general elections, was appointed by Prime Minister Ahern as
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. He has taken a high
profile as Minister, criticizing the involvement of the Provisional
IRA in criminal activity and introducing police reserve units over
the protests of the regular police force. He is candid, voluble,
and unafraid of controversy in his regular media appearances. A key
question is how well Prime Minister Ahern and Fianna Fail cabinet
members will be able to contain inevitable disagreements with the
sometimes volatile McDowell in the run-up to the 2007 general
elections.
KENNY
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL EI
SUBJECT: JUSTICE MINISTER APPOINTED DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Ref: Dublin 1044
1. (U) On September 13, Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Bertie Ahern
appointed as Deputy Prime Minister (Tanaiste) the new leader of the
Progressive Democrats (PD) party and current Minister for Justice,
Equality and Law Reform, Michael McDowell. (In Ireland, the leader
of the minority party in a coalition government, such as the current
Fianna Fail-PD coalition, is usually appointed Tanaiste, although
this is not constitutionally required.) McDowell took over
unopposed as PD leader on September 11, following the unexpected
resignation of Mary Harney, who had been PD leader for nearly 13
years and Tanaiste for 9 (reftel). McDowell avoided a possibly
divisive leadership election campaign within the PD party when he
offered potential rival candidates key positions within the party
hierarchy in return for their support. Just as McDowell will retain
his portfolio as Justice Minister, Harney will remain Minister for
Health and Children. Following his selection as party leader,
McDowell stated that the PDs would remain in government with Fianna
Fail and carry forward the coalition's program of government through
the remainder of its term until the expected spring 2007 general
elections.
McDowell's Bio
--------------
2. (SBU) McDowell hails from a political family, and his
grandfather, in fact, was Ireland's first education minister.
McDowell is himself an attorney by profession and first came to
prominence in 1985 when he left the Fine Gael party to join Mary
Harney in founding the Progressive Democrats. He was first elected
to the Irish parliament (Dail) in 1987, lost his seat in 1989,
regained it in 1992, and lost it again in 1997. McDowell became
Attorney General in 1999, and, after reclaiming his Dail seat in the
2002 general elections, was appointed by Prime Minister Ahern as
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. He has taken a high
profile as Minister, criticizing the involvement of the Provisional
IRA in criminal activity and introducing police reserve units over
the protests of the regular police force. He is candid, voluble,
and unafraid of controversy in his regular media appearances. A key
question is how well Prime Minister Ahern and Fianna Fail cabinet
members will be able to contain inevitable disagreements with the
sometimes volatile McDowell in the run-up to the 2007 general
elections.
KENNY