Doubts over whether Cowen will run again

BRIAN COWEN has left question marks as to whether he will stand in the election following his decision to step down as Fianna Fáil leader.

Mr Cowen made the announcement that he was stepping down at a hastily arranged press conference in Dublin’s Merrion Hotel at 2pm on Saturday.

Quizzed on the issue of whether he would run again now that he was no longer party leader, he said he would consult with family and friends but hoped to do so.

Speaking subsequently on the issue yesterday in his hometown of Clara, Co Offaly, Mr Cowen said: “We’ll reflect on that... Our (constituency selection) convention is due on February 1 so obviously we will make our mind up before then.

“In situations like this, I have to listen to my family as well. So it’s the first time in a long time you know... where you can’t just simply look at this in a narrow political sense. But I’m not suggesting one way or the other; I am just trying to give you an honest assessment of where I am — where my mind is today.”

Mr Cowen was in Clara with his wife Mary and daughters Sinead and Meabhdh for an anniversary Mass in memory of his father, the late TD Ber Cowen, who died this day 27 years ago (January 24, 1984).

Reflecting on his decision to step down as leader, Mr Cowen said: “You come out afterwards and you meet people and you’re disappointed but you use your sense of humour… it is time for it, being light-hearted, reassure them that everything’s okay, keep moving...

“I’m a realist, the situation is as it is, the party has to move forward.

“I’ve always been raised in the belief that no one person is bigger than the party and you have got to make an objective political assessment.... However difficult it might be, I’m satisfied in the present circumstances that was the right thing to do.”

At Saturday’s press conference, Mr Cowen was flanked by Tánaiste Mary Coughlan and Government Chief Whip John Curran as he made his announcement.

At times sombre, at times smiling, he fielded questions from journalists and defended the fact that he was staying on as Taoiseach despite resigning as party leader.

This was despite the fact that he had told a previous press conference last week that it would be a bad idea to have a Taoiseach that was not leader of his party.

“Having one line of authority as a Taoiseach, and a separate line of authority in political decision-making as a leader of Fianna Fáil, is not, in my view, a good idea. It could lead to confusion and dilution of authority for the persons concerned,” he said at the January 16 press conference.

But on Saturday, he insisted the issue was manageable.

“We will manage the situation and people need to be assured of that,” he stated.

“This is the first time this has happened for the Fianna Fáil party but I want to assure you that the Government will discharge its duties properly and appropriately ... it does not in any way affect Government business.”