Cowen coy over who will make up cabinet

BRIAN COWEN was yesterday nominated for the leadership of Fianna Fáil by two of the ministers considered front-runners for promotion in his government.

But Mr Cowen said people should not read too much significance into the fact that he was nominated by Justice Minister Brian Lenihan and seconded by Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan.

While stressing that he did not wish to sound coy, he said he had not yet thought about the formation of his cabinet, and would not do so until elected Taoiseach on May 7.

Friendship, geography and gender all play factors in cabinet reshuffles. Because Mr Cowen represents a rural constituency — Laois-Offaly — there has been speculation that his Tánaiste orfinance minister would have to be Dublin-based for purposes of balance. MrLenihan would fit that bill.

But Mr Cowen may place as much emphasis on gender, friendship or straightforward hard work — giving the key roles to those he feels have earned them.

There will be much speculation, but the candidates for the top positions seem clear: Mr Lenihan, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern, Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin, Ms Coughlan, and Education Minister Mary Hanafin.

One of those candidates, Mr Ahern, bluntly declared yesterday there was not “a red cent in the Exchequer” to develop a new hospital in the north-east — in what was interpreted by some as an early pitch for the finance portfolio.

Economists have warned that the new finance minister will have to be capable of making tough decisions and frequently saying “no”, given the more difficult economic circumstances the country finds itself in.

Meanwhile, another of the candidates, Mr Martin, refused to be drawn on his own ambitions.

Asked if he would like to be Tánaiste, Mr Martin replied: “I think it is a great privilege to be in a position to serve in politics in anycapacity. It has been my great privilege to serve in the Government and in the cabinet. I am available to continue to serve.

“That is a matter for the Taoiseach and I am certainly not going to be drawn on any speculation that people may have because I think it would be very much idle speculation. Brian Cowen is his own man and will make up his own mind.”