Cowen interview fall-out generates 457 articles around the world

The coverage of Brian Cowen's radio interview yesterday generated 457 articles in 400 publications across 26 countries around the world.

The coverage marks an unprecedented 692% increase in the average daily number of articles published relating to Mr Cowen.

Fianna Fáil has blamed Fine Gael's Simon Coveney for generating much of the criticism through his twitter post, where he said the Taoiseach's "uninspiring" performance made him sound "half-way between drunk and hungover".

In an interview with Prime Time last night, Arts Minister Mary Hanafin acknowledged the Taoiseach had sounded hoarse, but emphatically denied that he was hungover.

Meanwhile, Stephen O'Leary from O'Leary Analytics said Twitter was a new factor for many politicians to grasp, "and how powerful it can be as a medium".