Brian Cowen has resigned as leader of Fianna Fáil but will
continue as Taoiseach until a new Government is formed after
the general election on March 11th.
Mr Cowen announced that he had stood down at a news
conference in the Merrion Hotel, Dublin this afternoon,
adding that he alone had made the decision.
The Taoiseach said he made the decision this morning after
making a political assessment of the situation last night.
He said that he had not been in touch with any senior member
of the party about his leadership since his botched attempt
last Thursday to shuffle six members of the Cabinet.
He also said the arrangements would be announced later for
the rules for the election of a new leader. He said that
process would be a short one and would be concluded within a
week.
“There will be a very quick leadership contest within a
week,” he said. He added that he would not state a personal
preference as to who should be his successor."
In a short statement, Mr Cowen said he knew the membership
of Fianna Fáil through the breadth of Ireland were concerned
about the party’s prospects in the election.
“I share those concerns,” he said. “I want the party in the
best possible position to fight that election, he said.
“At this crucial time when decision and choices have to be
made…. The focus should be and what policies the parties are
pursuing rather than the internal focus on personalities,”
he said. He said the election should be free from interferences and
the fight would be with the opposition, not with Fianna Fáil
itself.
Asked why he was now prepared to accept a situation where
there was a Taoiseach and a separate Fianna Fáil leader, Mr
Cowen agreed it was not ideal but said it would be for a
short period.
Mr Cowen reiterated that it was the right thing to do and
said he had directed attention to what was right for the
country.
When questioned about his thwarted effort to effect a mini
reshuffle, he defended the decision and denied it was cynical.
“I felt that it was my duty to put in place the best
possible team…. It was not a cynical move by me. It was a
political act to put in place those people.”
He said that there was a view before the decision – within
his party and in some media quarters – that it was a logical
and practical step.
Asked would he be contesting the next election, Mr Cowen
said he would consult his family and supporters in
Laois-Offaly, but added: “I hope to do so”.
This evening, the Green Party said it had discussed Mr
Cowen's decision and will hold a meeting tomorrow morning to
consider the situation.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny criticised Mr Cowen’s decision
to remain as Taoiseach, saying it was a “complete
contradiction of his stated position less than a week ago”.
Mr Kenny said unless Mr Cowen sought an immediate
dissolution of the Dáil, his party would move a motion of no
confidence in the Taoiseach next week.
There will be a contest for the Fianna Fáil leadership after
four senior members stepped forward as candidates following
the resignation of Brian Cowen earlier today.
Former minister for foreign affairs Micheál Martin this
afternoon paid tribute to the Taoiseach for his honesty and
integrity and confirmed that he would be putting his name
forward as a candidate to succeed him as party leader.
Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan also confirmed he will
contest the leadership. He is expected to hold a press
conference tomorrow.
This evening, Minister for Social Protection Éamon Ó Cuív
told RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta that he would contest the
leadership.
Minister for Tourism Mary Hanafin became the fourth
candidate when she confirmed tonight she intended to stand.
Earlier today parliamentary party chairman John Browne said
nominations for the leadership were likely to close on
Monday with a secret ballot held at a specially convened
meeting on Wednesday.
Mr Martin has emerged as the early frontrunner, boosted by
his handling of the challenge to Mr Cowen’s leadership last
weekend. Today he received the formal support of a number of
TDs, including Michael McGrath, Peter Power, Sean Ardagh,
Sean Haughey and Cork-based deputies Ned O’Keefe and Michael
Moynihan. So far 14 TDs have expressed their support for Mr
Martin.
Speaking at his home in Ballinlough in Cork city this
afternoon, Mr Martin said Mr Cowen had taken his decision to
step down as leader of Fianna Fáil in circumstances which
cannot have been easy but he admired him for his generosity
in putting the party first and stepping down.
“I have always admired the Taoiseach, he's always been a man
of honesty and integrity. He has made a distinctive
contribution to Irish public life in the ministerial
portfolios he has held and indeed as Taoiseach of the
country,” said Mr Martin.
Mr Martin said he saw no difficulty with Mr Cowen remaining
on as Taoiseach and somebody else being leader of Fianna
Fáil, given that the general election was only a few weeks
away. He praised Mr Cowen for indicating that he would work
with the new leader.
Mr Martin said that he would be putting his name forward in
line with the opinion that he had previously expressed that
he would contest the leadership if and when a vacancy arose.
He said he was not taking “anything for granted” in terms of
support and he would be in touch with all members of the
parliamentary party over the weekend to secure every
possible vote as he expected others to also go forward with a
full contest to take place.
“I will be talking to my colleagues over the weekend,
setting out my vision for the party and for the country and
I believe I can bring the energy, the vitality to the party
to ensure a very vibrant campaign in what will be one of the
most important elections ever for the country."
Mr Martin admitted if elected leader, he faces a huge
challenge in terms of winning back support for the party.
While he  refused to be drawn on the number of seats the
party would win under his leadership, he  identified a poll
rating in the mid-20s as an achievable goal.
He said that he agreed with Mr Cowen's assessment that the
campaign should focus on policies rather personalities and
it was important that Fianna Fáil play a central role on the
debate on policy choices being put before the electorate. “I
believe I have the energy and the passion and the commitment
to make a difference in terms of how we organise ourselves
and how we develop and formulate policies for the future.”