“We need to show that Europe works”
About Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen was born on 10th January 1960,he is the current Taoiseach of Ireland. He took office as Taoiseach on 7 May 2008, and was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.He will remain Taoiseach until a new government is formed by the winners of the 2011 general election on 25 February. Cowen is not a candidate in that election and will retire from politics upon its conclusion.
Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May 2008 until 22 January 2011, when he resigned under political pressure after a failed and highly controversial attempt at a cabinet reshuffle.
He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Laois–Offaly constituency from 1984 to 2011. He previously served as Minister for Labour (1992–93), Minister for Energy (1993), Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (1993–94), Minister for Health and Children (1997–2000), Minister for Foreign Affairs (2000–04) and Minister for Finance (2004–08) and also as Tánaiste (2007–08). He became leader of Fianna Fáil on the resignation of Bertie Ahern. On 7 May 2008, following the resignation of Ahern as Taoiseach, Cowen was nominated by Dáil Éireann to replace him and was appointed by the President later that day.
As of 19 January 2011, Cowen is also the Minister for Foreign Affairs in his own government following the resignation of Micheál Martin.
Cowen’s administration coincided with the Irish financial and banking crises. He has generated substantial criticism for his failure to stem the tide of either crisis, ultimately culminating in his government’s formal request for financial rescue from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, widely seen in Ireland as a national humiliation. Cowen has brought record low levels of public support for Fianna Fáil, his government, and the Taoiseach himself. With approval as of January 2011 hovering between 8 and 10 percent, he is the least popular incumbent politician in the history of Irish opinion polling.”As taoiseach,” said The Sunday Times, “he has proved to be a dismal failure.”The Irish Independent has called Cowen “worst Taoiseach in the history of the State.”
