Mr Brian Cowen's decision not to represent the Government personally at the Convention on the Future of Europe has been supported by all the other Irish representatives to the body.
Former Taoiseach Mr John Bruton, former minister Mr Proinsias De Rossa and Green Party deputy Mr John Gormley said yesterday that to change the Government representatives now would be a mistake. Minister of State Mr Dick Roche is the Government representative, and all three - from opposition parties - said that he was doing a good job.
Former Taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald is among those who have said that Mr Cowen should personally represent the Government. Five of the 15 member-states are represented by their foreign ministers.
Mr Bruton said yesterday that it was right for Mr Cowen to decide not to represent the Government personally at the convention. "He has a lot of other work to do. This is a totally absorbing job. Even at this stage, I have not grasped and understood all the various dossiers."
Mr Bruton pointed out that the Government had already changed its representation once, when the Minister of State responsible for European Affairs replaced former European commissioner Mr Ray MacSharry. "It would be the height of folly to make another change," he added.
Mr De Rossa commented: "At this stage it would be a mistake to change horses. Dick Roche has read himself into the brief and is more engaged and active than at the beginning. Putting Brian Cowen in would be just for the optics. He would not be able to spend time there going to all the plenary sessions and getting fully engaged for the next six months. It is far better to have Dick Roche."
Mr Gormley, an alternate member of the convention, said that Mr Cowen had "enough on his plate" as Minister for Foreign Affairs. "The workload is very heavy, and by no means all foreign ministers are out there. Perhaps he could come out for the last couple of months, but it is quite undermining of Dick Roche for people to keep suggesting this. Roche knows the ropes and has made a good contribution."
Mr Pat Carey, the other alternate member, also supports the Government's decision.
Mr Cowen yesterday defended his decision not to represent the Government at the convention, saying that it was a "superficial analysis" to suggest that this diminished Ireland's influence. "It's up to every country to decide how they will be represented," he said on RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme.
Five of the 15 member-states were represented by their foreign ministers and another two were represented by other cabinet ministers. However, academics and MEPs were also representing governments.
"Our Minister of State [Mr Roche] has responsibility for Europe. He is out there putting forward established Government positions that have come out of a Cabinet sub-committee."
Mr Cowen went on to say that Ireland's parliamentary representatives were also distinguishing themselves, with Mr Bruton being on the praesidium of the convention. "The convention will come forward with proposals and the decisions will be made at the Inter-Governmental Conference, where all foreign ministers and heads of government will have their say," he added.