John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

Cuireann sé áthas orm cuidiú leis an moladh. On behalf of the Government, I second the nomination of Brian Cowen for the position of Taoiseach.

During the protracted and sometimes tense negotiations that led to the formation of the Government, I got to know Brian Cowen the politician and the private man. The Brian Cowen I know is tough but fair minded and gregarious but thoughtful. He is relaxed but always focused on the task in hand. He knows the task he now faces as Taoiseach is onerous. He knows that, to complete this task successfully, there must be a strong and unified Government — a lesson he has learned so well from former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, a man to whom this country owes a great debt of gratitude.

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