What has Cowen ever done for us...

[adamirer]

Genuine, not loaded question -for debate and flesh out Mr. Cowen beyond the normal media image. I think most here assume Cowen will be the eventual successor, but what he he actually achieved? In the last 11 years he was Minister of Health, Foreign Affairs and Finance... but what has he done.

May 1997 - Jan 2000: Min of Health
Prolonged nurses strike, but didn't set off the Angola land mines like Harney has. Question could be asked is that merely because he didn't try to change what was there and was able to ride on the re-financing of the health services after the brutal cuts of the eighties. While getting out unscathed is an achievement, did he succeed with anything else?

Jan 2000 - Sept 2004: Foreign Affairs
A smooth Presidency of the EU in 2004 and successes in NI peace processes were credit wsie, nearly all handed to Ahern - which was probably unfair and the extent of Cowen contributions have not been much commented on, though one notable success was the diplomatic coup in winning a seat at the UN Security Council. The Civil service foreign corp earned their corn on that one and no doubt Cowen deserved much praise for supprting that initiative.

Sept 2004 - Current: Finance
Inherited a situation from McCreevy that hasn't really changed. No major new initiatives after McCreevey's pension fund, ssia etc. His performance in the pre election budgets can be fairly marked as spending sprees though a more frugal apprach is now in place after getting a three Dail.

So... how do his achievements stand up???

[digoutday]

he ate all the pies

[Gimpanzee]

Cowen Must Go

[odie1kanobe]

Jan 2000 - Sept 2004: Foreign Affairs
A smooth Presidency of the EU in 2004 and successes in NI peace processes were credit wsie, nearly all handed to Ahern - which was probably unfair and the extent of Cowen contributions have not been much commented on, though one notable success was the diplomatic coup in winning a seat at the UN Security Council. The Civil service foreign corp earned their corn on that one and no doubt Cowen deserved much praise for supprting that initiative.

Sat next to UK Senior Civil servant at a conference and he made a very telling point that Ireland has exceeded expectations in their presidency with the smooth professional way that had handled lots of delicate issues.

He spent quite a bit of time in Dublin and what impressed him was the attitude of knowing what the deadline was and what was needed to achieve a specific outcome.

He contrasted it with some other EU presidencies which achieved little surprisingly including the UK one.

His big point was that because we don't really make any enemies we were well placed to get stuff done.

[adamirer]

blank

[adamirer]

(am playing devil's advocate here.. I fully expect that Ahern took a lot of credit for work done by Cowen & DFA officials. Should also be said that most Ministers had VERY little involvement in the organising and running for the EU04 events bar placing the councils in their own towns and reading the pre-prepared speeches.).

So, is he worthy?

[meriwether]

He was in charge of the economy for the last few years.

The PMI was out yesterday. Not good.

GDP and GNP fell by 0.8 and 2.2% last quarter, I read here yesterday.

Top job.

[junketman]

What has Cowan done for us?

Supported Bertie to the hilt and said in the face of evidence the Taoiseach had perjured himself that he saw nothing wrong with Bertie's testimony.

When the man on the street was demanding accountability and standards in government, he chose to ignore the issue and basically said that accountability and standards in government were not a matter for him.

Allowed Bertie to decide when he was leaving rather than telling him enough was enough.

A two word answer, 'not much!'.

[Defeated Romanticist]

More pertinant question might be what will Cowen do for us?

He will probably be more of a chief leading from the front rather than the Chairman leading from behind that Bertie Ahern has been. The right leader at the right time for the country.

[westkerryblue]

well "boombuster" biffo has already broken the country,highest unemployment and inflation since 1991 and 1987,supports corruption oh and wants billions to be wasted in ridiculous unaccountable and inefficient public services.....so the future is pretty bleak....only plus side id that they might put in a decent finance minister for once...badly needed.