Moynihan’s ‘moving on’ from ministry frustration
WHILE he was ‘irate’ when he first learned of his non-inclusion in the ranks of the junior ministers, Cork North West TD Michael Moynihan is now focussing on delivering as much as possible for his constituents during the term of this Government.
When contacted by this newspaper last week, prior to the appointments being announced, Deputy Moynihan and others within his camp had ruled out any possibility of an elevation for the Kiskeam man, who had been Fianna Fáil chief whip in the previous Dáil.
In that role, he had ensured the delivery of the maximum amount of votes for his leader, Micheal Martin and, as he put it himself in a number of TV and radio interviews and briefings, taken “a lot of s**t” on behalf of the current Taoiseach.
When contacted by The Corkman after the news of his disappointment came to light, he acknowledged this.
“We had wanted to play down expectations,” he said, confirming though that he had been given firm cause to believe that a Junior Ministry would be his when the announcements were made on Wednesday.
This newspaper understands that the Moynihan camp were prepared for an announcement from early on Wednesday, and it must have been particularly disappointing when during the day the Fianna Fáil TD Jim O’Callaghan had let it be known he turned down a Junior Minister’s portfolio. The news came through that Wednesday night after our newspaper had gone to print that there would be no appointment after all.
One of the factors which went against the possibility of promotion for Michael Moynihan was a focus in the media and by commentators on the appointment of three Ministers, including the Taoiseach, from Cork South Central alone.
“There’s a huge difference between Cork South Central and here around north Cork and Duhallow, Kanturk, Rockchapel, Freemount and Kiskeam,” Deputy Moynihan pointed out.
“This has driven me on further, and it has ensured that I am going to work harder than ever. And I will be a thorn in the side of the government to deliver on the issues,” he said.
Last week, two causes Deputy Moynihan had worked on made significant progress: the tender for Kanturk School and the Kanturk Relief Road.