Politics is a tough calling and politicians need all the strength of character they can muster. But how many of our politicians were destined for politics? Do our Government Ministers have personalities that suit their job? Astrologically speaking, are they are in the right business?

Here’s what the Stars say about our Government Ministers and Junior Ministers:

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore  are Taureans, who “like to take too many risks, with feelings of insecurity making them feel threatened and vulnerable, and they are in a tremendous hurry to get to the nowhere that they are trying to go to.” They share their star sign with Pat Rabbitte, Brendan Howlin and the now-retired Junior Minister, Róisin Shortall.

The Minister for Finance Michael Noonan is a Gemini who “seems to have an inbuilt lucky streak where money is concerned”, which may also be lucky for the rest of us!

Health Minister James Reilly is a Leo, “bombastic, conceited, snobbish and patronizing at times, but generally popular within their own circle of friends”. His circle of friends is getting smaller as the health boss blunders from crisis to crisis.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan was born under the star sign Cancer and “can develop a defensive attitude and display a crabby, shell-like exterior”. He will need it before the household charge and septic tank problems are resolved.

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton who is an Aquarian, has “a revolutionary and unorthodox approach to problem-solving”. It seems to be causing her problems with her Fine Gael colleagues but maybe her resolute nature will see her through.

The Minister for Education Rúairí Quinn, an Arian, “can be selfish, impatient, argumentative, quick-tempered and often insensitive to the feelings of others”, maybe not the ideal personality traits to navigate the minefield of the schools system, not to mention the annual Easter Rising called the teacher unions conferences. Votes of no confidence in the Minister, regardless of who is in office, are de rigueur and the unfortunate politician in situ is as often as not given the silent treatment.

Piscean Richard Bruton, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, is “a sensitive soul with a warm, compassionate and easy-going nature”, but tends to follow his instincts rather than logic. His cool exterior seems to fit the bill but his instincts might have been a bit off when he challenged Enda for the leadership of Fine Gael.

Aquarian Alan Shatter, the Justice Supremo, can appear “aloof and reserved with people he doesn’t relate to” and possesses an unforgiving streak when let down. Those born under the water sign are stubborn and sarcastic, but although progressive and original thinkers, their stars suggest they may be lacking in common sense.

Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald is a Leo who “are generally popular within their own circle of friends”. Just as well then after the children’s referendum debacle that she might have a few friends left.
Interestingly, Scorpios, who are “keenly perceptive and analytical and interested in political issues”, are totally absent from the ministerial ranks, even though ideal vocations for this star sign include politics! Scorpios are also the most deeply spiritual people, so maybe that explains it.

Missing entirely from the Ministerial ranks are Librans, who hate “argument and debate”. It seems they like to hear both sides of the story and give consideration to the other person’s point of view, definitely not the most common trait among politicians. Maybe they are also endowed with wisdom.

Check the astrological characteristics of all the ministers and junior ministers and see if they match what you see.

Taurus:
Ministers:
Enda Kenny (Taoiseach).
Eamon Gilmore (Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs).
Pat Rabbitte (Communications, Energy and Natural Resources).
Brendan Howlin (Public Expenditure & Reform).

Junior Ministers:
Dinny McGinley (Gaeltacht Affairs).
Róisin Shortall (Primary Care – retired!).

Taureans are practical, reliable, steadfast and very earthy, which may just mean they don’t shower as often as most people. They have an overwhelming need for security (could refer to garda drivers in this context?) and a sound sense of material values, with a love of good food, comfort and luxuries. They like to psycho-analyse their friends and tend to mumble when describing philosophical concepts.
With fixed ways and opinions, they have strong feelings about issues but can be self-indulgent and stubborn. They generally answer every question with a question and feelings of insecurity make them feel threatened and vulnerable. It has been claimed that trying to get your point across to a Taurean is a bit like talking to trees. All Taureans want to be God, but unfortunately for them, God is an Aries.
Taureans make good builders, farmers, accountants bankers, accountants, auctioneers and economists.

Weaknesses: Stubborn, possessive, materialistic, boring, sulky and self-indulgent, they tend to avoid trying new things that involve a lot of innovations.

Likes: Stability, personal comfort.

Dislikes: Being hassled, change or disruption.

Other famous Taureans: Tony Blair, Queen Elizabeth and Shirley Temple.

Aquarius:
Ministers:
Joan Burton (Social Protection).
Alan Shatter (Justice Defence).

Junior Ministers:
Lucinda Creighton (European Affairs).

Aquarians are the only people in the Zodiac who can play volleyball with themselves and frequently do. They have out-of-body experiences on a daily basis. They like Rice Krispies since it engages them in friendly chat as they eat breakfast.
Aquarians are communicative about subjects that interest them but appear aloof and reserved with people they don’t relate to. They have active minds and put intense energy into reaching their goals, with an unorthodox approach to problem-solving. They like astronomy – because they have been there!
Scientifically minded, Aquarians are able to separate fact from fantasy – occasionally. Stubbornness can lead to anger and they can be aloof or reserved with people they don’t relate to and have an unforgiving streak when let down.
Ideal jobs include science, photography, television broadcasting, writing, psychology, astrology or publishing.

Weaknesses: Stubborn, unemotional, sarcastic, rebellious and aloof, they tend to be impractical and lacking in common sense.

Likes: Intellectual challenges, travelling and getting away.

Dislikes: Idealism, infidelity.

Other famous Aquarians: Ronald Reagan, Charles Darwin and John Travolta

Leo:
Ministers:
James Reilly (Health).
Frances Fitzgerald (Children and Youth Affairs).

Junior Ministers:
John Perry (Small Business).
Willie Penrose (Housing and Planning).

Leos will grab attention in any way they can. They need affection at all times but can’t find any because everyone thinks they are irritating. They can appear to be bombastic, conceited, snobbish and patronizing at times, but are generally popular within their own small circle of friends. They like to be centre stage and have strong personalities, projecting a sense of authority but can come across as overbearing. They open doors by screaming at them and humility frightens them. Leos hang posters of themselves on their walls, want parades on their birthdays and they like to kiss mirrors.
They are self-repressive, passive and restrained. They like to do things ‘big time’ and have little time for attention to detail. Intellectually inclined, they like to take a lateral view and are forthright and outspoken in getting their point across.
Ideal occupations for Leos are scientist, manager, headmaster, engineer, politician, farmer or mathematician, but their organizational skills would also be a great asset in party planning, social event organisation, PR work or in acting.

Weaknesses: Pretentious, domineering, melodramatic, stubborn and vain, they tend to have a quick temper and a blunt and malicious nature.

Likes: New beginnings, being in charge.

Dislikes: Small mindedness, repetition.

Other famous Leos: Genghis Khan, Barney the Dinosaur and Benito Mussolini.

Gemini:
Ministers:
Michael Noonan (Finance).
Simon Coveney (Agriculture, Food and the Marine).

Junior Ministers:
Kathleen Lynch (Disability, Equality and Mental Health).

Everyone loves a Gemini because everyone loves a schizophrenic. Those born under this sign are essentially communicative, self-expressive and mentally alert but can have a dual personality, are pushy and overbearing and prone to neurotic outbursts. They have lots of nervous energy and like to be on the move constantly.

Geminis vandalize their own houses and use far-fetched analogies to describe philosophical concepts. They pick fights with small children and speak very loudly in order to be heard. This is unfortunate as they are nearly always talking to themselves. A Gemini is essentially a paranoid Aquarian.

Geminis seem to have an inbuilt lucky streak where money is concerned and, once they make up their minds which way to go, cash seems to flow in both directions. However, gambling speculations may not be as fortunate.
Ideal occupations include lecturing, news reporting, solicitor, commercial traveller, shorthand typist, teaching or printing and publishing.

Weaknesses: Superficial, impulsive, restless, devious and indecisive, they tend to be restless and unstable and have a short attention span.

Likes: Juggling multiple tasks, talking.

Dislikes: Feeling restricted, being alone.

Other famous Geminis: George Bush Sn., Marilyn Monroe, and Jeffrey Dahmer.

Aries:
Ministers:
Rúairí Quinn (Education & Skills).

Junior Ministers:
None

Aries have ram-like eyebrows and smug expressions and rarely say one thing and do another; they usually do the wrong thing and then don’t discuss it. Being infallible, God is generally believed to be an Arian. No matter what happens to Arians they will insist until death that it is exactly what they always wanted.
Arians are typically headstrong and impulsive, essentially self-expressive and assertive, with qualities of enterprise and spontaneity, but they want everything done yesterday. They are moody, short-tempered, self-involved, impulsive and impatient. If success is not immediate, they tend to lose interest and give up easily and are notorious for not finishing what they have begun. They will say whatever pops into their head and usually end up regretting it later.
Ideal occupations include police officer, fire-fighter, entrepreneur, soldier and rescue worker. Arians work well in the fields of government and politics, television, and recreation.

Weaknesses: Moody, jealous, short-tempered, self-involved, impulsive and impatient, they tend to be unable to work properly in a team as their drive to be a leader.

Likes: Being first, spontaneity.
Dislikes: Admitting defeat, advice from others.

Other famous Arians: Adolf Hitler, Harry Houdini and Victoria Beckham.

Capricorn:
Ministers:
Leo Varadkar (Transport, Tourism and Sport).

Junior Ministers:
Michael Ring (Tourism and Sport).
Paul Kehoe (Department of Taoiseach & Chief Whip)

Capricorns are hardworking, reliable, and dull as hell. They are essentially self-repressive, passive and restrained, with qualities of enterprise and practicality. Traditionally cautious and methodical, they work patiently and perseveringly to achieve desired results. They are always on the move, headed to their next delusion of grandeur. They love to be seen talking on their cell phones but the phones are not actually turned on because Capricorns don’t have any friends to call.

Capricorns are resilient and self-disciplined and are able to plan carefully, coolly and deliberately to achieve their ambitions. They don’t give up easily and can make everyone, including family, friends and loved ones, feel a little left out in the cold whilst they pursue their goals.

Financially prudent, they will drive a hard bargain, acquiring to keep and they prefer to save rather than invest and value their independence with an instinctive need for self-sufficiency.
Ideal occupations include scientist, manager, headmaster, engineer, politician, farmer and mathematician.

Weaknesses: Dictatorial, inhibited, conceited, pessimistic, distrusting and unimaginative, they can be very demanding and rude.

Likes: Understanding, structure.

Dislikes: Ridicule, off the wall ideas.

Other famous Capricorns: Rudyard Kipling, Joseph Stalin, Dolly Parton.

Virgo:
Ministers:
Jimmy Deenihan (Arts, Heritage & Gaeltacht).

Junior Ministers:
Fergus O’Dowd (New Era Project).
Brian Hayes (Public Service Reform and OPW).

Said to regulate their breathing and colour-coordinate their clothes, Virgos are practical and somewhat critical people who trust facts and logic rather than emotions and intuition. They like to analyse and evaluate a situation, often in the minutest detail, and are methodical, conscientious and precise. They enjoy work that involves serving others in some way (waiters?). Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a euphemism for the word “Virgo”. It is said that no Virgo in history has ever belched.
Virgos have high expectations of partners and expect others to conform to the same standards. This can often be difficult for others to live up to. Financially, they either blow their chances in one fell swoop or work steadily to achieve their aim. May have problems with nervous disorders and excessive worrying.
Ideal vocations are teacher, psychologist or technologist and may well become involved in health and hygiene.

Weaknesses: Sceptical fussy, inflexible, cold and interfering, they can be subject to black moods and despondency and their outlook can be negative and picky.

Likes: Being right, order.

Dislikes: Weakness, uncertainty.

Other famous Virgos: Lyndon Johnson, Sean Connery and Mickey Mouse.

Cancer:
Ministers:
Phil Hogan (Environment, Community and Local Government).

Junior Ministers:
Alan Kelly (Public and Commuter Transport).

People born under Cancer like to know what’s going on in the lives of everyone in the galaxy but tend not to know what’s happening in their own. Cancerians coin their own words to describe philosophical concepts, so it’s no surprise to find George W. Bush under this star sign.
Full of contradictions, they can develop a defensive attitude and have perseverance and drive. They wield their power through the fact that they know what everyone is thinking at any given time (this is why they are never invited to parties). They do not depend on other people for the material things but despite their need to be everyone’s saviour, they don’t seem to need social interaction.
Cancerians always think everyone is screwing them, and they’re probably right – the most entertaining thing about this is that they like it, striving to be a doormat. They are likely to put lots of money away for a rainy day, but they are reluctant to use it when the necessary.
Ideal vocations are nursing, hotelier, publican or nursery gardening.

Weaknesses: Moody, clingy, self-pitying, oversensitive, suspicious and self-absorbed, they tend to employ cunning tricks at times to get what they want.

Likes: Romance, loyalty.

Dislikes: Opposition, unpredictability.

Other famous Cancerians: Nelson Mandela, Mike Tyson and Sylvester Stallone.

Pisces:
Ministers:
Richard Bruton (Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation).

Junior Ministers:
None.

Everywhere Pisceans go, laughter and comedy ensue, which would be great if they were trying to be funny. The people you find going in reverse at 70 mph on the motorway are usually Pisceans.
Typically sensitive souls with a warm, compassionate and easy-going nature, they often keep their innermost feelings to themselves and find it difficult to conform to rigid behaviour patterns.
Pisceans are never happy when they are acting against their own instincts. They are most likely to die by falling out of a window or by getting run over by a truck. Diffident about finances, they have a knack of finding out the hard way.
Ideal vocations tend to be musical, artistic or poetic, they make good actors and are excellent psychics. On a more practical level they could go into nursing or care work as they like to look after others.

Weaknesses: Oversensitive, indecisive, self-pitying, lazy, they tend to follow their instincts rather than logic or reason.

Likes: Mystery, dreaming.

Dislikes: Criticism, freeloaders.

Other famous Pisceans: Osama bin Laden, Alan Greenspan and Bruce Willis.

Sagittarius:
Ministers:
None.

Junior Ministers:
Shane McEntee (Food, Horticulture and Food Safety).
Jan O’Sullivan (Trade and Development ).
Sean Sherlock (Research and Innovation).
Alex White (Primary Care).

Born adventurers, Sagittarians like smashing spiders with their bare hands and trying to walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night with the lights out. They would sooner sustain crippling injury than do anything the easy way. Animals and small children love Sagittarians, which is nice, but adults usually hate them, maybe because they are loud and have no social graces
.
Likely to be more successful financially in the second half of life as the first half will be spent in getting what they want. Mistakes can be very costly ones but when they gamble they tend to win more than they lose.
Ideal vocations include translator, religious figurehead, lawyer, teacher and sportsperson, with an affinity for horses and dogs.

Weaknesses: Unemotional, undisciplined, over-optimistic and prone to exaggeration, they tend to be generous with other people’s money and follow a different set of rules for themselves than they preach for others.

Like: Freedom, travelling.

Dislikes: Detail, being tied down.

Other famous Sagittarians: Jacques Chirac, Woody Allen, Sinéad O’Connor.

Libra:
Ministers:
None.

Junior Ministers:
None.

Librans are elegant, charming and tasteful to the point of causing nausea in loved ones. The scales symbol signifies a desire for balance and harmony in most situations and they are generally fairly easy going. They like to hear two sides of the story and give consideration to the other person’s point of view but they find it difficult to make a decision, usually consulting their therapist or the TV Guide. Only two Librans have ever been found in cut-price supermarkets.
Usually opting for the quiet life, they hate arguments or debates of any sort. Good company a wide circle of acquaintances but underneath tend to lack confidence in themselves. Financially self-sufficient, but emotions and money can be their downfall.
Ideal vocations are artist, poet, beautician, interior decorator, hairdresser, valuer, or working in cosmetics or textiles.

Weaknesses: Superficial, vain, indecisive, timid and unreliable, they don’t deal well with confrontations or arguments.

Likes: Fine things, sharing.

Dislikes: Injustice, selfishness.

Other famous Librans: Mahatma Ghandi, Gerry Adams, Simon Cowell.

Scorpio:
Ministers:
None.

Junior Ministers:
None.

Intense personalities who project a strong animal magnetism, Scorpios downfall is their biting tongue, finding it easy to spit out venom when they want to hurt someone. Tending to have dark secrets, they have hidden depths within them and a strong conviction in what they do. Even their silences will have you waiting in anticipation for their next move.
Deeply spiritual people, Scorpios make dangerous enemies (or friends) and many will turn to crime to accomplish their goals. They are keenly perceptive and analytical and interested in political issues. Scorpios have much advice to give on matters that are of no concern to them. Many Scorpios have found ways to successfully smoke in the shower.
Ideal careers would-be detective, soldier, investigator, politician, surgeon or anywhere that they can use their researching abilities.

Weaknesses: Jealous, obsessive, suspicious, manipulative and unyielding, they love to be in ultimate control of everything.

Likes: honesty, loyalty and faithfulness.

Dislikes: Shallow Relationship sand flattery.

Other famous Scorpios: Hilary Clinton, Pablo Picasso and Bill Gates.

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