Cowen: Retiring Ahern the 'consummate politician of our generation'

Brian Cowen has been leading tributes to former Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil TD Bertie Ahern following the announcement that he is to bow out of politics.

Mr Ahern told a gathering of his local O'Donovan Rossa Fianna Fáil cumann in Dublin last night that he will not contest the General Election.