Gilmore: Taoiseach passed Cowen a poisoned chalice

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern handed Tánaiste Brian Cowen “a poisoned chalice” by appointing him jointly to lead the Fianna Fáil campaign to pass the Lisbon Treaty.

That is according to Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, who questioned the motives behind the move.

On Friday, Mr Ahern announced that Finance Minister Cowen and Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Cowen would be joint directors of elections for the Fianna Fáil referendum campaign.