Bruton ambition ‘known weeks ago’

THE mystery of just when the Government learned of John Bruton’s bid for the EU presidency deepened with a statement from the former Taoiseach that he had informed the Irish ambassador three weeks ago.

Mr Bruton finished his tenure as the EU’s ambassador to Washington yesterday following a five-year stint that was considered to have been very successful.

To increase his slim chance of getting the job, Mr Bruton would need the enthusiastic support of the Government. But his bid met with a less than enthusiastic response from Taoiseach Brian Cowen until he was put under pressure by the media in Brussels at this week’s EU summit.