Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Tairgim:

Go n-ainmneoidh Dáil Éireann an Teachta Brian Ó Comhain le bheith ceaptha ag an Uachtarán mar Thaoiseach.

I move:

That Dáil Éireann nominate Deputy Brian Cowen for appointment by the President to be Taoiseach.

Deputy Brian Cowen is immensely well qualified to undertake the duties of the office of Taoiseach. First elected to Dáil Éireann in 1984, he has been re-elected in every election since. In addition to his having extensive experience of local government, he has been a member of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body and an Opposition spokesperson on agriculture, food and forestry. He has shown ability and leadership in a succession of demanding ministerial positions, as Minister for Labour, Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Minister for Health and Children and Minister for Foreign Affairs, including a critically important role during our successful Presidency of the European Union. He has been Minister for Finance since 2004 and Tánaiste since June 2007.

Deputy Brian Cowen's extensive experience across his ministerial career, his deep involvement with Northern Ireland and the peace process and his skilled and widely admired engagement in Europe on behalf of the European Union during our Presidency all equip him to undertake the obligations of office of Taoiseach with flair and capacity. Furthermore, as a most successful contributor to partnership Government over recent years and as one who had an active role in the negotiation of the current programme for Government, he is well placed to lead a Government that will enjoy the support, commitment and energy of all three parties, in addition to those Independent Members of the House who support our programme.

Throughout his career, Deputy Brian Cowen has been a fair-minded and straight-talking participant in the social partnership process and has all the necessary skills to lead the process towards the next stage of development in line with the needs of our economy and society. In short, I consider him to be a uniquely well qualified candidate to succeed me in the position of Taoiseach and to lead the country towards the realisation of our shared objectives and through the challenge we face in the period ahead.

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