Lee should have been given frontbench post

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

WHAT hope is there for reform of Irish politics when someone like George Lee loses all faith in the possibility of change.

The fact that, probably despite their best efforts and intentions, even Fine Gael couldn’t rise above petty internal party politics and appoint someone like Lee, with his actual proven record of success in the real world, to its front bench and allow him the opportunity to formulate party policy, weakens the party’s claims to offer a better alternative.

Lee’s decision means the political system closed ranks rather than allow an "outsider" to bring about some change to the nod-and-wink culture that places a greater emphasis on what constituency a person comes from than any actual talent or ability.

George Lee should have been made Fine Gael’s frontbench spokesperson as Enterprise and Employment spokesperson from day one.

If other people can be made ministers on their first day what’s the big deal about an appointment to the front bench on the first day?

Desmond FitzGerald
Canary Wharf
London

This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Tuesday, February 09, 2010