The Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, says he did not expect to be appointed EU Commissioner and is happy to continue in his current portfolio. He is annoyed at what he described as "mischief-making on the supposed fall-out" of last week's appointment.
"I did not say goodbye to staff at the Department of Health `to the mutual satisfaction of everyone', nor were there any celebrations at local level for my appointment, despite what the Labour Party may say, nor was there any need for a meeting between me and the Taoiseach afterwards. It simply did not happen," he told The Irish Times yesterday.
Last week the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, announced that the Attorney General, Mr David Byrne SC, was to be Ireland's next EU commissioner, replacing Mr Padraig Flynn. The third candidate mentioned for the post had been the former minister, Ms Maire Geogheghan-Quinn.
Mr Ahern had indicated to him some weeks ago that three names, "one of which was mine", had been submitted to the President of the EU Commission, Mr Romano Prodi. His name had gone forward because several names were required as part of the new selection procedure.
"I was asked if my name could go forward in that context, but that did not indicate commitment on anyone's behalf."
Mr Cowen said he believed the list had been sent about two weeks before the appointment was made, and that the Taoiseach had been in discussion with Mr Prodi about the appointment since June.
"The Taoiseach kindly informed me that my name would have been one of three names submitted for consideration. The list was sent forward, and there were confidential discussions between the Taoiseach and Mr Prodi as to the qualities available and the possible portfolios. The Commission President would have had views on what he wanted."
In discussions between Mr Ahern and other Cabinet members it emerged that a by-election in Mr Cowen's Laois-Offaly constituency would not be favoured.
"There was an emerging view among colleagues that an election need not be a consequence because an excellent candidate could be chosen without an election. I had no problem with that. I never had a problem with that.
"If Mr Prodi had come back with various views on lists given, the question might have been revisited. There was a view among colleagues that we would seek to make the appointment with the absence of an election. Mr Prodi gave his views on the issue, and it emerged that David Byrne would make an excellent choice."
Mr Cowen said he was not disappointed at not getting the post, and it had not caused friction between himself and Mr Ahern.
"Myself and the Taoiseach have an excellent relationship, and nothing that happened in this matter has made a difference to that, and that is the truth of it. Suggestions that it was otherwise are simply inaccurate. Maybe it is what the pundits want to hear, but it is simply not the case."
Asked if he did indeed want the job, Mr Cowen replied: "The situation never arose." He had not considered it because "without the job coming on offer it does not get the consideration. If it did come on offer there would have been numerous considerations, such as family. The Government made the decision. The Attorney General will make an excellent Commissioner."
He said there had been no canvassing of colleagues or campaigning for the job.
The first he knew of it was a list of names in a newspaper "that had essentially been drawn up by the media."
Asked about the perception that he did not like the Health portfolio, Mr Cowen responded: "This is becoming a bit tiresome. I'm really fed up with it. I'm working hard and making a lot of progress. If that is the only downer that they can come up with - `He doesn't want to be in Health' - if that is the best they can do, how am I supposed to answer that?"
Mr Cowen said that, contrary to suggestions, Fianna Fail councillors had not been celebrating what they believed was his appointment as Commissioner last week. If there had been celebrations, he said, they were probably because the party had retained the chairmanship of Offaly County Council.