TÁNAISTE BRIAN Cowen held discussions with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in the week leading up to Mr Ahern's resignation announcement on Wednesday. HARRY McGEE, Political Staff, reports.
However, Mr Cowen emphasised yesterday that he had had no bearing on the Mr Ahern's ultimate decision to set a date for stepping down. He had applied no pressure on the Taoiseach to do so.
After submitting his nomination for the leadership of Fianna Fáil, Mr Cowen said he expected to be selected unopposed by the party's eligible 77 TDs on Wednesday and become leader-designate until May 7th, when he will also assume the role of taoiseach.
"The difference now is that I have to direct the Government, I have to lead the Government. I hope the confidence that has been reposed in me will be justified. I will do my very very best," he said.
He confirmed that he had met the Taoiseach on Thursday of last week at Mr Ahern's constituency office, St Luke's, after he returned from a family holiday in Vietnam. He said the two had discussed a "range of issues including current events".
They had held a few more conversations between then and the time of Mr Ahern's announcement, including one on Tuesday night, he said.
"He indicated to me that he had been reflecting on the issue," Mr Cowen said. "I emphasise that the Taoiseach came to his own decisions." He respected the conclusions that Mr Ahern had come to.
Asked about his own qualifications for taoiseach, Mr Cowen said he was not uniquely qualified but was one of many qualified people in party.
Employing the Latin phrase primus inter pares (first among equals), he continued: "I value the experience not just of Cabinet members but of the whole parliamentary party. I know what this party is about. I have lived with it, I have worked with it, I have breathed it, I love this party."
When asked if he had expected to take on the mantle of leadership quite so soon, Mr Cowen replied that in politics, circumstances dictated events.
Accepting that it happened sooner than he expected, he continued: "There was a whole set of political circumstance that brought the Taoiseach to his conclusion. One has to be ready at any time. You cannot say that the changeover can be [ at a particular date].
"The important point is that when that issue arose we had the maturity. The discipline of the party was there for all to see."
He added that that one of Mr Ahern's most striking legacies was that the party was unified. He was also confident the transition to the new leadership would happen in an orderly and smooth manner.
He would not be drawn on the composition of his Cabinet, saying it was too early. He reiterated that he would be merely leader-designate from Wednesday and would be resuming his duties as Minster for Finance until May 7th.
"At the moment, I am preparing myself for the outcome of this nomination process. In terms of style . . . there are a lot of lessons that have been learned from the Ahern era. Certainly the teamwork and cohesion of the Government has gone from strength to strength."
In a strong indication of continuity with the present coalition arrangements, he said that a strong programme of government had been negotiated.
Reminded of his famous put-down of the Progressive Democrats - "When in doubt, leave [ them] out" - he replied that he had changed his mind about that since then. "It's 'if in doubt, bring them in' nowadays," he said.
Mr Cowen submitted his nomination to chief whip Tom Kitt yesterday morning. He said there was no particular significance or conclusions to be drawn from the fact that his nominators were Brian Lenihan and Mary Coughlan.
In an accompanying statement, he added: "I have a deep and abiding affection and respect for my party, its history and traditions.
"In my 24 years as a public representative, I have come to appreciate the huge effort of our members and supporters who are the lifeblood of the organisation."