Time proves a healer for Mayo's new minister

Fair play to Dara Calleary, who has made it back to cabinet. It was some journey by any standards. ‘Golfgate’ has faded into the past: the front nine of his political career. Now, much more happily for him, starts the back nine.

They say you can never know the real meaning of events when they are happening. Time - and only time – tells the story. When the details around that dinner in Galway during Covid were revealed, he faced an awful situation. More than most people, Dara Calleary had spent years working for and planning and preparing for a public life. People in Ballina know well the importance of a cabinet ministry, both personally and for the region. To have worked so hard for something, to get it, and then have it disappear before he had any real chance to do it, must have been terrifically hard for him. Anybody can relate to that on a human level.

The morning that story broke, it was reported on Morning Ireland that he was to do an interview later in the programme to explain what had happened. He was still a cabinet minister by that stage. But before he did any interview, he had resigned. Looking back, if he had done that interview as a minister and tried to hold on to his position, it would probably have cost him his career in politics, never mind his ministry. The reaction to an attempt to cling on would have been volcanic. He may not even have survived as a TD. That past seems another country now, but looking back, it really is difficult to come to any other conclusion.

By resigning, by taking political responsibility for his attendance, and to do it without rancour or bitterness or blaming anyone else, was the mark of the man, but also meant he lived to fight another day. And that day has now come. It is a classic example of knowing when it is wise to take one step back so that you can take two forward at a later stage. There is no value in dwelling in any detail now on how hard that decision was, or how tough the consequences were, but it cannot have been easy for him or those most close to him.

So many of all political persuasions and none will be pleased for him on a personal level. While we haven’t been as much in contact in recent years, I know him a long time. Back in 1994, as a 17-year-old who had just moved to Dublin, he was kind to me when I was homesick. Many who know Dara will recognise the kindness. Many think kindly of him for very similar reasons.

Thirty years after I met him, he joins the cabinet with every expectation that he will have a long stretch in government. At the least, he will in all likelihood have five years as a cabinet minister. Many in the county have been waiting for this for a long time. When he first entered politics there was the presumption that senior ministerial office was well within his range. Those who know Dara will smile at the use of the phrase ‘when he first entered politics’, as if that refers to when he was first elected. Dara first entered politics when he entered the world.

People you talk to in Dublin who have no connection with Mayo describe him as highly competent, focused and affable. It is also noted by many how increasingly able and witty a public speaker he is – that’s a big deal in the political business. The general feeling in political circles therefore was that it would be very hard to leave him out of government this time.

There did seem to be a doubt about that last week when it was revealed that Noel Grealish and Seán Canney, one a TD for Galway West, the other for Galway East, would be the two Regional Independent Super Juniors. That was a lot of Connacht around the cabinet table, even if they aren’t full members. But it seems that factor has impacted Hildegarde Naughton TD more. Notwithstanding Dara’s appointment, many in the region will be unimpressed with the overall geographical spread.

That is one reason why he has a lot of ground to cover. His portfolio provides even more ground. He is now the Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural, Community Development and the Gaeltacht. If you can say that without pausing for breath you have done well. If you can say it in Irish, you are even more well qualified.

Social Protection is a big enough job in itself, with a spend of about €26 billion per annum. Even in contemporary Ireland, that’s a lot of money. A Minister with responsibility for such sums is by definition a big political beast. A Minister with responsibility for such sums is also by definition responsible for a lot of things that could go wrong.

On top of that, he will hold the Rural and Community Development brief, a role that Heather Humphreys built a formidable political reputation on, as well as Gaeltacht affairs. With those component parts, one can see how he will be perceived as the Minister for Connacht. Some in Dublin won’t mean it as a complete compliment. Dara certainly won’t mind that. There is a lot of opportunity for a politician from the west of Ireland in those roles. There is a long list of things to be getting on with.

But, in a phrase that has become a political cliché, he is now playing senior hurling. There will be an expectation of delivery. There will be issues and tough decisions and difficult choices and they will end up on his desk. There will be a lot of criticism, a lot of stick, and no way to keep everyone happy. That comes with the territory, of course, but you have to show you can handle it. How you do in the job, and not solely whether people like you, will determine your political fortunes.

He will also have to balance his regional role with a wish to avoid being pigeon-holed. He will know he needs to grow his national political stature, while still tending to the back yard.

And of course, this is all set within a wider context. Micheál Martin’s time as leader of Fianna Fáil, long as it has been, will ultimately end. If you look at his appointments to cabinet, the Taoiseach has made sure there are a lot of people who could potentially succeed him. Dara Calleary is one of them. That’s great, but it too comes with hazards.

For now, he will no doubt be pleased with the promotion. He will have to master the various aspects of his brief, and start thinking about how he is going to meet all the expectations that are on him. How he does that is a story yet unwritten.