COWEN BOWS OUT

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen confirmed last night that he will bow out of politics at the general election, saying he was leaving public life with his integrity intact and devoid of bitterness.

Although he will remain as Taoiseach until his successor is elected, the curtain will effectively fall on Mr Cowen’s political career today when he will trigger the dissolution of the Dáil to allow for the election.

His decision was not a surprise, following the manner in which his leadership of Fianna Fáil was prematurely ended and the lifetime of his government dramatically shortened following a botched reshuffle.