Brian Cowen
| Brian Cowen | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Taoiseach | |
|
In office 7 May 2008 – 9 March 2011 |
|
| President | Mary McAleese |
| Tánaiste | Mary Coughlan |
| Preceded by | Bertie Ahern |
| Succeeded by | Enda Kenny |
| Leader of Fianna Fáil | |
|
In office 7 May 2008 – 22 January 2011 |
|
| Deputy | Mary Coughlan |
| Preceded by | Bertie Ahern |
| Succeeded by | Micheál Martin |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
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In office 19 January 2011 – 9 March 2011 |
|
| Taoiseach | Himself |
| Preceded by | Micheál Martin |
| Succeeded by | Eamon Gilmore (Foreign Affairs and Trade) |
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In office 27 January 2000 – 29 September 2004 |
|
| Taoiseach | Bertie Ahern |
| Preceded by | David Andrews |
| Succeeded by | Dermot Ahern |
|
Minister for Defence Acting |
|
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In office 18 February 2010 – 23 March 2010 |
|
| Taoiseach | Himself |
| Preceded by | Willie O'Dea |
| Succeeded by | Tony Killeen |
| Tánaiste | |
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In office 14 June 2007 – 7 May 2008 |
|
| Taoiseach | Bertie Ahern |
| Preceded by | Michael McDowell |
| Succeeded by | Mary Coughlan |
| Minister for Finance | |
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In office 29 September 2004 – 7 May 2008 |
|
| Taoiseach | Bertie Ahern |
| Preceded by | Charlie McCreevy |
| Succeeded by | Brian Lenihan |
| Minister for Health and Children | |
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In office 26 June 1997 – 27 January 2000 |
|
| Taoiseach | Bertie Ahern |
| Preceded by | Michael Noonan (Health) |
| Succeeded by | Micheál Martin |
| Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications | |
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In office 22 January 1993 – 15 December 1994 |
|
| Taoiseach | Albert Reynolds |
| Preceded by | Charlie McCreevy (Tourism, Transport and Communication) |
| Succeeded by | Michael Lowry |
| Minister for Labour | |
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In office 11 February 1992 – 12 January 1993 |
|
| Taoiseach | Albert Reynolds |
| Preceded by | Michael O'Kennedy |
| Succeeded by | Mervyn Taylor |
| Teachta Dála | |
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In office June 1984 – February 2011 |
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| Constituency | Laois–Offaly |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Brian Bernard Cowen 10 January 1960 Tullamore, Offaly, Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Molloy |
| Children |
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| Parents |
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| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
| Profession | Solicitor |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Signature |  |
Brian Bernard Cowen (born 10 January 1960) is an Irish former politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.
Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May 2008 until 22 January 2011, when he resigned under political pressure after a failed and highly controversial attempt at a cabinet reshuffle.
He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Laois–Offaly constituency from 1984 to 2011. He previously served as Minister for Labour (1992–93), Minister for Energy (1993), Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (1993–94), Minister for Health (1997–2000), Minister for Foreign Affairs (2000–04) and Minister for Finance (2004–08) and also as Tánaiste (2007–08). He became leader of Fianna Fáil on the resignation of Bertie Ahern. On 7 May 2008, following the resignation of Ahern as Taoiseach, Cowen was nominated by Dáil Éireann to replace him and was appointed by the President later that day.
Cowen's administration coincided with the Irish financial and banking crises. He has received substantial criticism for his failure to stem the tide of either crisis, ultimately culminating in his government's formal request for financial rescue from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, widely seen in Ireland as a national humiliation. Cowen's leadership saw record low levels of public support for Fianna Fáil, his government, and the Taoiseach himself. With approval at 8 percent by the time the 30th Dáil was dissolved, he was the least popular incumbent politician in the history of Irish opinion polling. "As Taoiseach," said The Sunday Times, "he has proved to be a dismal failure." In 2011, the Irish Independent called Cowen the "worst Taoiseach in the history of the State."
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