WikiPortallus: Brian Cowen.html

Brian Cowen was born in Clara, County Offaly² on 10 January 1960 (age 48) . He grew up at the family home at Clara. He is the son of Bernard and May Cowen.³ His father, Bernard Cowen, was a former Fianna Fáil TD and Senator. Bernard Cowen died in 1984. The family owned a public house in Clara town, located adjacent to the family home. His father also worked as an auctioneer. From an early age, Brian Cowen frequently worked as a barman in his father's pub.⁴ He has two brothers — Christopher and Barry.³ His brother, Barry, is also involved in politics and is a Fianna Fáil Councillor on Offaly County Council.⁵⁶⁷ His other brother, Christopher, is a publican (whom Revenue discovered didn't pay his taxes⁸), who runs the family Pub and is the oldest of the Cowen brothers. The old Cowen family home and Pub are soon to be demolished to make way for a new development.⁹¹⁰

Cowen was educated at Clara National School, Ard Scoil Naomh Chiaráin (St. Ciaran's High School), located at Clara, Co. Offaly, and the Cistercian College of Mount St. Joseph in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. He was 12 years old when he entered Mount St Joseph College, as a boarder.¹¹ After secondary school, he attended University College Dublin where he studied law. He subsequently qualified as a solicitor from the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, Dublin.²

He is a member of the Gaelic Athletic Association and continues to serve as president of Clara GAA club. He also lined out with the Offaly Gaelic football team in the early 1980s. Cowen likes to socialise with his constituents in some of the local pubs in his native Offaly.¹⁴ In May 2003 he took part in a charity CD project organised by 'The Brewery Tap' pub in Tullamore. All proceeds from the CD went to charity and featured 28 songs, including Cowen singing the Phil Coulter song, "The Town I Loved So Well".¹⁵

In May 2007, Cowen told Jason O'Toole of Hot Press that, as a student, "I would say there were a couple of occasions when marijuana was passed around – and, unlike President Clinton, I did inhale! There wasn’t a whole lot in it really".¹⁶¹⁷

Early political life

Cowen remained on the backbenches of Dáil Éireann for the next seven years. Following the 1989 general election when Fianna Fáil entered into a coalition government with the Progressive Democrats for the first time, Cowen was one of a number of TDs who were vehemently opposed to the move. Two years later in November 1991 the then Minister for Finance, Albert Reynolds, challenged Charles Haughey for the leadership of the party. Cowen firmly aligned himself behind Reynolds and quickly became associated with the party's so-called '"Country & Western" wing. Reynolds's supporters earned this nickname due to the fact that the vast majority were rural deputies and that Reynolds had made a lot of money in the dance hall business in the 1960s. Reynolds became leader on his second attempt, when Haughey was forced to retire as Taoiseach in 1992.

Reynolds appointed Cowen, then just turned 32, to his first cabinet position as Minister for Labour. In spite of being a member of the cabinet his attitude to his coalition partners, the Progressive Democrats, was hostile. This was evident at the Fianna Fáil party's Ardfheis in March 1992. In the main warm-up to the leader's address, Cowen was even more blunt regarding his attitude to coalition, making the statement, "What about the PDs? When in doubt leave them out." Cowen's career has featured contention, argument and conflict. He rowed with the PDs, being furious at their interference with Fianna Fail's view that, as majority partner, they should have wielded the power. ¹⁸

The 1992 general election produced a hung Dáil and resulted in negotiations getting underway between all the main parties. Cowen, along with Noel Dempsey and Bertie Ahern, negotiated on behalf of Fianna Fáil in an attempt to form a government with the Labour Party. A deal was reached between the two parties, and Cowen was again appointed Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications. In that role he implemented the controversial decision to relax the so-called stopover at Shannon Airport, which allowed limited direct trans-Atlantic flights from Dublin Airport. The decision proved divisive and saw one Fianna Fáil TD, Síle de Valera, resign from the party in protest.

In October 1994 it was revealed that Cowen had 1,000 shares in Arcon, a company to which he was in the process of awarding a mining licence. He quickly sold the shares and apologised in the Dáil for causing himself and his colleagues "some embarrassment".¹⁹

Later in 1994 Albert Reynolds resigned as Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil. Bertie Ahern became the new leader; however the party was now in opposition. Cowen was appointed to the front bench, first as spokesperson on Agriculture, Food and Forestry (1994) and later as spokesperson on Health (1997).

Cabinet career: 1997–present

Minister for Health & Children

When Fianna Fáil returned to power following the 1997 general election, Cowen was appointed to the newly expanded position of Minister for Health & Children. Cowen himself described his period there as like being in Angola because landmines can go off without any warning.²⁰ During his tenure he had to deal with problems of bed shortages and overcrowding in hospitals, as well as a prolonged nurses strike in 1999. It came as a relief to Cowen when he vacated the Ministry for Health & Children on being appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs in January 2000.^{citation needed}

Minister for Foreign Affairs

Cowen's tenure as Foreign Minister saw extensive negotiations continue regarding the Northern Ireland peace process and other international activities, particularly when Ireland gained a place on the United Nations Security Council. In 2003 Cowen, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, was the victim of a bizarre personal attack by the leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, Ian Paisley, a former outspoken critic of the Republic of Ireland and its government. In front of a crowd of party supporters and in the presence of television cameras and radio reporters, Paisley launched into a diatribe about Cowen's personal appearance before also insulting his mother.¹⁴ In 2004 Cowen played a key role during Ireland's Presidency of the European Council and the simultaneous expansion of the European Union.^{citation needed}

Minister for Finance

Following the departure of Charlie McCreevy in September 2004 Cowen became Minister for Finance. On 1 December 2004 Cowen announced his first budget, a budget that was generally seen as a give-away budget in which spending was increased by 9%.²¹

Cowen's second budget in 2005 was dominated by a new childcare package, and measures to take 'tax-free millionaires' back into the tax net from 2007 by restricting tax breaks. A readjustment of income-tax measures were designed to take 52,000 low earners out of the tax net and remove 90,000 middle earners from the higher tax band.²²

Cowen's third budget in 2007, in anticipation of the 2007 general election, was regarded as one of the biggest spending sprees in the history of the state. The €3.7 billion package included increases in pension and social welfare allowances, a marked green agenda, as well as a reduction in the top rate of income tax from 42% to 41%. Cowen has been criticised for being allegedly complacent during the economic turmoil in January 2008.²³

Leader of Fianna Fáil and Taoiseach

During his ministerial career, Cowen was often touted in the media as the front-runner to succeed Bertie Ahern as leader of Fianna Fáil.²⁴ Cowen's position was strengthened when he succeeded Mary O'Rourke as deputy-leader of the party in 2002. Subsequently he was appointed Minister for Finance, seen as an almost mandatory position for any aspiring Taoiseach.

Cowen was confirmed as the sole nominee for the position of Leader of Fianna Fáil on 5 April,²⁵ having been nominated by Brian Lenihan and by Mary Coughlan on 4 April.²⁶ He was elected as the seventh leader of Fianna Fáil on 9 April 2008¹, and assumed office on 6 May.

Cowen's selection of Tánaiste and Finance Minister has been seen as inappropriate:
To have compounded that mistake by appointing Mary Coughlan Tánaiste was a blunder. The position of Tánaiste has now come to mean something because of the succession of coalition governments. Also because of the ordering of Dáil business which brings the Tánaiste centre stage at least once a week. Coughlan simply does not have the experience across several Government departments to get away with this.²⁷ In an opinion poll released in the Irish Times on 14 November 2008, "satisfaction with the Government has dropped to a record low of 18 per cent, a drop of 28 points since the last Irish Times poll in June, while satisfaction with Taoiseach Brian Cowen has fallen to 26 per cent, a drop of 21 points." This is the lowest level recorded since Irish Times polling began more than a quarter of a century ago. [1]

Cowen's first Budget as Taoiseach

Cowan's first budget as Taoiseach in October 2008, met with unprecedented hostility from the public, forcing complete reversals of proposed tax increases in several areas, weakening the authority and perceived confidence in his Government.²⁸²⁹³⁰
The grey army of pensioners was the first to descend on the gates. The numbers swelled quickly to an estimated 15,000 thanks to specially organised trains and buses, as well as taxis who were offering free journeys to the over-70s.³¹
A further protest on education cuts saw a large protest group gather outside the Dáil:
The teachers began gathering outside Buswells Hotel as darkness fell. It was bitterly cold. Given the plummeting temperature, it didn't look like there would be a big crowd. But by 7pm, numbers were estimated at about 10,000. In the Dáil, as the debate on the education cuts got under way, Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin was telling the house that 20,000 teachers were protesting outside.³²
Subsequent to the Budget and the public reaction to it on the street, an opinion poll on October 26 2008, showed Cowen's party, Fianna Fáil, plummeting to a historic low and opposition Fine Gael leading the main government party by seven percentage points.³³³⁴ Cowen admitted, that his authority has been damaged by the unraveling of the Budget and is facing barely concealed disaffection from within his Cabinet. A senior political source said: "The Budget was an accident waiting to happen." ³⁵

A further opinion poll, taken on 10 & 11 November 2008, found that satisfaction with Cowen's Government performance had collapsed, down to just 18 per cent, a massive fall of 28 percentage points, while support for the principal coalition party, Fianna Fáil, plummeted 15 percentage points to 27 per cent, while that of the alternative party of government, Fine Gael, jumped to 34 per cent, a gain of 11 percentage points. ³⁶ ³⁷

Under the European Union stability and growth pact, EU states are required to keep their budget deficit to GDP ratio below a 3 per cent limit and maintain a debt/GDP ratio below 60 per cent. On October 31 2008 the European Commission opened an excessive deficit procedure against the Government for allowing its' budget deficit exceed those limits. The budget deficit is expected to be 5.5 per cent in 2008 and 6.5 per cent in 2009.³⁸

Public image

Cowen is often referred to in the Irish satirical and tabloid media as BIFFO, a pejorative nickname sometimes applied to people from the midlands county of Offaly.³⁹⁴⁰ BIFFO is widely understood as an acronym for "Big Ignorant Fecker³⁹/Fucker⁴¹/Fellow⁴² From Offaly". Cowen has said that 'BIFFO' stands for "Beautiful Intelligent Fellow From Offaly'.⁴³ The Irish Independent has provided him with a further acronym GRUFFALO (Grumpy Rude Uncensored Fecker/Fucker/Fellow From Around Laois Offaly)⁴⁴

Cowen was accused of 'conduct unbecoming' in the Dáil, over comments that he made in the Dáil, when at the end of a heated exchange Cowen sat down, and turned to Tánaiste Mary Coughlan and Dáil microphones then picked up the Taoiseach using the word 'fuckers'.⁴⁵ He subsequently apologised for this remark.⁴⁴

Treaty of Lisbon

The Irish electorate's decision to reject the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon on 12 June 2008 was viewed by some media and political observers as a protest against Cowen and his government.⁴⁶ The Irish Independent called the failed referendum's aftermath the government's "biggest political crisis in decades." Columnist Brendan O'Connor called the outcome "a humiliating failure for Cowen and the people who put him there."⁴⁷⁴⁸ The Taoiseach himself arguably dealt a damaging blow to his own side when, on 12 May 2008, he admitted in a radio interview that he had not read the Treaty of Lisbon in its entirety.⁴⁹

Quotations

References

^ ^a ^b "FF elects Brian Cowen as leader", RTÉ News (9 April 2008). Retrieved on 9 April 2008.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Profile of Brian Cowen". Fianna Fáil website. Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ ^a ^b Brennan, Michael (10 April 2008). "This is better than Offaly winning the All-Ireland", Irish Independent. Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ "Sometimes, nice guys do finish top of the pile", Irish Independent (5 April 2008). Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ "Cowen's brother insists Brian 'is his own man' despite Ahern legacy", Irish Independent (5 April 2008). Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ "Councillor Barry Cowen". Offaly.ie. Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ Buckley, Donal (11 April 2008). "The Taoiseach's Triangle", Irish Independent. Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ http://www.independent.ie/national-news/cowens-brother-listed-as-a-tax-defaulter-by-revenue-1331751.html Cowen's brother listed as a tax defaulter by Revenue
^ "Clara residents oppose plans for Cowen's land", Sunday Tribune (28 January 2007). Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ "Green light for Clara Town Centre Development", Offaly Express (6 February 2008). Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ O'Doherty, Gemma (3 May 2008). "Spot the next Taoiseach", Irish Independent. Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ "The Cowen Dossier", Offaly Express. Retrieved on 9 April 2008.
^ Hand, Lise (10 April 2008). "Cowen feels the hand of history", Irish Independent. Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ ^a ^b Nolan, Larissa (4 May 2003). "Hot Lips Cowen rises above the raving Reverend", Irish Independent. Retrieved on 4 April 2008.
^ "Live at the Tap". The Brewery Tap. Retrieved on 4 April 2008.
^ "Cowen admits to smoking marijuana", BreakingNews.ie. Retrieved on 4 April 2008.
^ O'Toole, Jason (23 May 2007). "The man who would be king", Hot Press. Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/the-strife-of-brian-1516021.html The Strife of Brian
^ Gene Kerrigan and Pat Brennan (1999). This Great Little Nation – Cowengate. Gill & Macmillan, pp. 62-63. ISBN 0-7171-2937-3.
^ Bowers, Fergal (1 January 2003). "Heath - review of the year". IrishHealth.com.
^ "Cowen delivers Budget 2005 speech", RTÉ News (12 January 2004). Retrieved on 4 April 2008.
^ Beesley, Arthur (8 December 2005). "Children gain as rich reined in", The Irish Times. Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ Ruddock, Alan (27 January 2008). "Behind the smugness is a clueless Brian Cowen", Irish Independent. Retrieved on 2 April 2008.
^ Ruddock, Alan (3 December 2006). "Cowen's cowardice is cleverly disguised as prudence with the nation's budget", Irish Independent. Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ "Cowen set to be elected Taoiseach", The Irish Times (6 April 2008). Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ "Nominated for FF leader: Statement by Mr Brian Cowen TD". Fianna Fáil website (4 April 2008). Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2008/1029/1225197272087.html Top three's lack of experience a liability
^ http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1025/poll.html Poll shows 10 point drop for Fianna Fáil
^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1030/1225303611657.html Thousands warm up a winter's night with their anger
^ http://www.independent.ie/national-news/taoiseach-talks-tough-then-does-third-uturn-1514643.html Taoiseach talks tough, then does third U-turn
^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2008/1023/1224713994966.html?via=mr 'Maybe this is what the revolution looks like,'
^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1030/1225320616209.html
^ <http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=NEWS-qqqs=news-qqqid=37063-qqqx=1.asp
^ http://www.independent.ie/national-news/government-not-able-to-deal-with--downturn--poll-1510475.html Government not able to deal with downturn -- poll
^ http://www.independent.ie/national-news/discontented-ministers-suppress-fury-1510534.html Discontented ministers suppress fury
^ Collapse in support for Government
^ Massive drop in support for Fianna Fáil
^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1103/breaking37.htm Commission takes action against Ireland over deficit
^ ^a ^b McKittrick, David (6 April 2008). "Introducing Biffo, Ireland's Taoiseach waiting in the wings", The Independent. Retrieved on 11 May 2008.
^ "Complaint made by: Dr. Tim O'Neill Ref: 90/04". BCC Complaint Decisions. Broadcasting Complaints Commission (October 2004). Retrieved on 11 May 2008.
^ McDonald, Henry (4 April 2008). "EU referendum will be Cowen's first test", The Guardian politics blog. Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ Gergely, Andras (3 April 2008). "Cowen set to be nominated Irish PM on Wednesday", The Mirror. Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ "'Biffo' hits the world stage". Offaly Express (9 April 2008).
^ ^a ^b "First apology for the Fianna Fáil Gruffalo who minded his Ps and Qs but forgot about Fs", Irish Independent (22 May 2008).
^ "Cowen caught on Dáil microphone using 'F'word", Irish Independent (21 May 2008).
^ http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/buck-stops-at-top-cowen-has-failed-his-first-big-test-1409571.html?startindex=10#comments Buck stops at top: Cowen has failed his first big test
^ "Cowen disaster: little authority and no leadership", Sunday Independent (15 June 2008). Retrieved on 15 June 2008.
^ "It's all too easy to simply blame the last guy in the job", Irish Independent (15 June 2008).
^ "The gaffe-ridden 'Yes' campaign spluttered into action far too late", Sunday Independent (15 June 2008). Retrieved on 15 June 2008.
^ Tansey, Paul and Beesley, Arthur (19 October 2007). "Tough Budget on way as growth slows down"". The Irish Times. Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ "The wise words of Brian Cowen", Irish Independent (6 December 2007).
^ McCarthy, Justine (28 October 2007). "Cowen: The Anointed One". Sunday Tribune. Retrieved on 7 May 2008.
^ "Cowen apology after use of f-word", RTÉ News (21 May 2008). Retrieved on 21 May 2008.
^ "The day Cowen will never be allowed to f-f-forget...", Irish Independent (24 May 2008).
^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1023/breaking25.htm Government comes under further Budget pressure
^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1101/1225321623480.html

Brian Cowen.html

Contents

Early and private life