Loyalty and national interest must be balanced, says Kenny

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny said Brian Cowen had demonstrated loyalty to Fianna Fáil, but the challenge facing the new taoiseach was balancing that loyalty against the national interest.

Mr Kenny was speaking immediately after Mr Cowen had been elected taoiseach by the Dáil.

Fine Gael had nominated Mr Kenny and Labour had put forward its leader, Eamon Gilmore, for the position, but only as a formality, both knowing Mr Cowen would win the vote.