Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THERE IS NOW widespread expectation that the much anticipated Cabinet reshuffle will not take place until tomorrow at the earliest.
There are even some indications that it will be Friday before we learn who is getting what ministerial role, and what the government intends to do with its remaining time in office.
But the message emanating from government is: no panic, no rush, no big deal, everything’s fine.
One figure close to the talks said: ”Just a bit of work still to do.” Another noted that the actual business of government has been preventing the Taoiseach and new Tánaiste from holding further talks, as they had to attend engagements in the Dáil and Seanad yesterday and today. “There’s no particular rush,” they insisted.
The reshuffle announcement was initially (but perhaps optimistically) expected on Tuesday, and was then pushed to today. It now appears Kenny and Burton aren’t ready to announce their ministerial shake-up just yet.
The two have been meeting alone for the past few days, with advisors purposely left outside the door during several hours of talks. There have been few if any leaks from the sessions and no indication of what ministers are going where. It’s a tight ship, and purposefully so, to prevent grandstanding and negotiation through the media.
One of the chief complaints about Burton from those who have briefed against her in the past is that she is indecisive and procrastinates on decision-making. Could this be the reason for the talks not yet concluding?
Those close to her would argue that she likes to have a discussion and that’s probably what’s happening in these talks.
Even Burton herself said on RTÉ at the weekend: “I do like to have a discussion. There is an awful lot of people in politics who make the decision first and have the discussion afterwards.
“I actually welcome the discussion. That probably is a little bit different from the way, in particular, sometimes handlers like to handle things. They like the decision to come down and then have the discussion. I like the discussion.”
It is known that Labour wants to take control of the Department of Jobs from Fine Gael —but then that much has been apparent for months, with Eamon Gilmore having made a push for the position before he fell on his sword last month. Beyond that there does not appear to be any other major disputes.
Fine Gael did not seem to raise any big issues with a document that Burton and her allies sent to the Taoiseach prior to negotiations getting under way this week.
As for the reshuffle itself and who goes where — we are operating in an information vacuum where very few solid details are known.
Even the ministers themselves are in the dark, many insisting they haven’t got the call —even if many are wearing their best suits, best ties and have the shoes extra shiny today.
Indeed there is a notable improvement in the dress of several hopeful TDs roaming the halls of Leinster House in recent days.
Kenny and Burton are said to be largely agreed on a policy document that will be launched when the reshuffle is announced. It is currently being pored over by their policy advisors before being finalised.
Some of its provisions could have budgetary implications which means that the high-powered Economic Management Council – which consists of the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, and the two finance ministers – will have to meet. This delays things further, but there is no indication of any huge dispute.
In addition the weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party has been suspended until tomorrow pending the reshuffle. The latest information is that Fine Gael’s is still going ahead.
The logistics of announcing a Cabinet reshuffle means that Dáil business has to be set aside to allow Kenny to inform the house of the ministerial shake-up. Speaking a short time ago to TDs, the Taoiseach said there would be no change to the business of the house today (ie: no reshuffle announcement).
Once the house is informed, ministers — both newly-appointed and reshuffled — will travel to the Áras to get their seals of office from the President.
Michael D Higgins is on standby, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that he may not be needed until tomorrow at the very earliest.
There was a buzz around Leinster House this morning in anticipation of what was to come but as the day has worn on TDs and nervous ministers are beginning to flag knowing they face another night of rumour and speculation.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Took me over six months to get the domestic grant payment. I had to chase it up constantly and everything went into them perfect. I Still haven’t got the payment from Energis 10 months later. If I owed them money that long, I would have no electricity. Why is there no fine or punishment to them for sticking the fingers up to the rest of us?
As with most grant systems only certain registered companies can be used. Then these companies charge more normally to the value of the grant.
@Craic_a_tower: Unfortunately that’s what usually happens when government subsidises a scheme or service. Suppliers take the P***. Happened years ago when government introduced a grant for central heating. Central heating installation went up by 2 grand over night.
Same with HAP. That has also driven rents up (as government won’t build):
@Fr. Fintan Stack: don’t agree on HAP and most landlords don’t and never wanted it hence they made it illegal to refuse
@Craic_a_tower: “don’t agree on HAP” – ??
So what are you saying? HAP hasn’t contributed to greed?
There’s no grant for a new build unfortunately which doesn’t make a huge pile of sense to me anyway. Will need to go without for now and hope to get them further down the road. If anyone knows any way around this, I’d love to hear.
Problem is the rip off sales people. Quoting people for things they don’t need, won’t work.
Also the price difference from different installers can’t be doubled for the same system.
I was luckily enough to get 7panels(2.5kw) for €2500 after the grant early last year. Price is almost doubled now. I’m going to DIY 4 or maybe 8 onto the shed roof next month ad seems the only affordable way at the moment.
There is a good thread on boards.ie i woild suggest anyone thinking of investing to read/post thete before committing to a purchase
@pkunzip doom2.zip: The quote I was given was 9k for mine, when I got my ducks in a row 2 months later it was 23.
@pkunzip doom2.zip: you’re right, a friend of mine, a carpenter, was quoted €15000 after the grant. He bought the panel and system from a company in Northern Iteland and installed the panels, the inverter, and cabling himself and got an electrician in to wire it up and certified it all for around the €7500 mark. Companies are ripping customers off.
I got solar panels 3 years ago and was assured I would qualify for grant. Assessor came out and said house was up to ber standard. Next day got call to say it wasn’t unless I provided information and rating for installed windows. Company I used for all new windows had gone out of business. It’s a joke.
Will housing trusts and country councils be installing panels on houses? If not why not?
@Mary Fitzsimons: they have been upgrade council owned property for years at no charge to the residents. It actually seems unfair on the neighbours who bought their properties from the council. As for trusts they are charities who try to house as many people they can but you seem to think they should provide better than people buying their own property.
Sun Arc Solar Systems do the majority of the grant work for the homeowner, I had my grant back in 6 weeks after the installation from this company.
@Charmaine ☘ Irish: Thing is, say for me as an example is the money you have to pay for the job. I wouldn’t be able to get a loan at my age to upgrade my home. Unless you have the money first go then it’s a non runner for a lot I’d imagine.
@Dave Barrett: yes, I get what your saying, if anyone had the money, it makes sense to get it as the money you have in the bank account or under the mattress wouldn’t give the same return as solar power.. it is a really sound investment.. but if your of a certain age, maybe idly might not make sense
I went with Activ8 and they did all the paper, they reduced the cost I paid them by the amount of the grant. I didn’t have to do a single thing
Overall the grant needs to be more or remove the vat from it
Like Charmaine I had my grant back in 8 weeks and the installer JM Energi Ballingeary did everything connected to the grant
I got my solar PV a year ago and the grant process was all online and almost all of it was done by the contractor, nice and simple. I put in a heat pump 6 months ago and the process was all by paper and post, involving me sending parts of forms to different people to fill in their bit and then have to wait for them to come back and send on to the next person, before collating it all to send onto SEAI. All very time consuming, slow and tedious. I don’t understand why they have different systems for different grants.
The worst part isn’t the grant process, it’s trying to get a contractor. It’s like they are interviewing the customers and deciding if you are worthy of their time. I feel sorry for anyone that has a non standard installation, as they will find very hard to get a contractor.
It’s the overall cost that is putting people off
From a domestic point of view I found it very easy and efficient. I applied and the same day they got back to me saying it was approved. Then 3 weeks after the installer sent in their paperwork the grant was paid into my account.
I got my solar PV a year ago and the grant process was all online and almost all of it was done by the contractor, nice and simple. I put in a heatpump 6 months ago and the process was all by paper and post, involving me sending parts of forms to different people to fill in their bit and then have to wait for them to come back and send on to the next person, before collating it all to send onto SEAI. All very time consuming, slow and tedious. I don’t understand why they have different systems for different grants.
The worst part isn’t the grant process, it’s trying to get a contractor. It’s like they are interviewing the customers and deciding if you are worthy of their time. I feel sorry for anyone that has a non standard installation, as they will find very hard to get a contractor.
I refurbished an old house and filled all the forms for SEAI , got BER, technical assessment fully compliant registered contractor as required. Spent €€€€ on roof, walls, floor, heat pump. Still waiting for ‘Michelle’ in SEAI to deal with my claim ……..! Complete waste of time !
This could be solved by a process that allowed the householder to sign the grant over to the installer, with a robust auditing process and the use of approved installers. That process works in other areas.
If every building had wind/solar… hmmm
have your say