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Cowen Takes The Reins Of Power In Ireland,
by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London
Friday, May 09, 2008
Brian Cowen officially took over from Bertie Ahern as Ireland's Prime Minister
on Wednesday and promised to make Ireland's place in the European Union a top
priority, starting with the next month's referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
Cowen, the former Finance Minister, took the reins of power this week after
winning a 88-76 vote in Dail Eireann, Ireland's parliament, and receiving his
seal of office from President Mary McAleese.
He wasted no time in naming his
new cabinet, with Brian Lenihan moving up to succeed Cowen at the Finance Department,
and Mary Coughlan taking the Enterprise, Trade and Employment job from Micheál
Martin, who was named the Foreign Minister.
In a speech to the Dail following his election, Cowen noted that Ireland's
recent economic success owes much to the strength of its relationship with the
United States, both through inward investment and bilateral trade. However,
he stressed that securing Ireland's role as a prominent player with the EU was
of equal importance, and that he would be pursuing this actively.
"As a member of the European Council, I will strive to ensure that our
European vocation is a live, engaged and creative thing, not a passive recipient
of the fruits of the labours of others," he told the assembly.
"In the same spirit, I look forward to leading a campaign over coming
weeks to assure the Irish people that ratification of the European Reform Treaty.
Far from damaging our interests, the Treaty will enhance our capacity to shape
developments in line with our own perspectives and principles. There is no more
urgent or important task ahead of me," he emphasised.
Ireland is the only EU member state which is holding a referendum on the Lisbon
Treaty, which replaces the draft European Constitution rejected by French and
Dutch voters in 2005.
However, a victory for the 'no' campaign - and recent polls
suggest that this is increasingly likely - would be an early blow to Cowen's new
government.
Cowen succeeded Bertie Ahern after the long-standing former Prime Minister
resigned over an ongoing investigation into his tax affairs and personal finances,
which he said was "threatening to dominate the political agenda".
Cowen was named last year by Ahern as his preferred successor, and is perhaps
the most widely experienced and able of the currently-serving ministers, having
served as the head of six government departments since 1992.
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