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Mary Cowen

Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen in Philadelphia.jpg
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
In office
19 January 2011 – 9 March 2011
Taoiseach Himself
Preceded by Micheál Martin
Succeeded by Eamon Gilmore (Foreign Affairs and Trade)
In office
27 January 2000 – 29 September 2004
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
Preceded by David Andrews
Succeeded by Dermot Ahern
Minister for Defence
Acting
In office
18 February 2010 – 23 March 2010
Taoiseach Himself
Preceded by Willie O'Dea
Succeeded by Tony Killeen
Tánaiste
In office
14 June 2007 – 7 May 2008
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
Preceded by Michael McDowell
Succeeded by Mary Coughlan
Minister for Finance
In office
29 September 2004 – 7 May 2008
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
Preceded by Charlie McCreevy
Succeeded by Brian Lenihan
Minister for Health and Children
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
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
In office
11 February 1992 – 12 January 1993
Taoiseach Albert Reynolds
Preceded by Michael O'Kennedy
Succeeded by Mervyn Taylor
Teachta Dála
In office
June 1984 – February 2011
Constituency Laois–Offaly
Personal details
Born Brian Bernard Cowen
(1960-01-10) 10 January 1960 (age 57)
Tullamore, Offaly, Ireland
Nationality Irish
Political party Fianna Fáil
Spouse(s) Mary Molloy (m. 1994)
Children
  • Sinead
  • Meabh
Parents
  • Bernard Cowen
  • Mary Cowen
Education Cistercian College, Roscrea
Alma mater University College Dublin
Profession
Signature

Brian Bernard Cowen (born 10 January 1960) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Taoiseach and Leader of Fianna Fáil from 2008 to 2011. He previously served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from January 2011 to March 2011 and 2000 to 2004, Minister for Defence from February 2011 to March 2011, Tánaiste from 2007 to 2008, Minister for Finance from 2004 to 2008, Minister for Health and Children from 1997 to 2000, Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications from 1993 to 1994, Minister for Labour from 1992 to 1993. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1984 to 2011..

Cowen was Leader of Fianna Fáil from May 2008 until January 2011, when he resigned under political pressure after a failed and highly controversial attempt at a cabinet reshuffle.

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. His 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.


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