This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7338035.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| New Irish governing party leader | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Brian Cowen has been formally elected leader of Ireland's governing Fianna Fáil party, replacing Bertie Ahern. | |
| However, the 48-year-old will not succeed Mr Ahern as taoiseach for another four weeks. | |
| He has been the only candidate for the leadership of the Republic's largest political party. | He has been the only candidate for the leadership of the Republic's largest political party. |
| Bertie Ahern announced last Wednesday he was stepping down, amid on-going inquiries about his finances at a tribunal into planning corruption. | Bertie Ahern announced last Wednesday he was stepping down, amid on-going inquiries about his finances at a tribunal into planning corruption. |
| It has long been thought that Mr Cowen would replace Mr Ahern as Fianna Fáil leader and taoiseach. | It has long been thought that Mr Cowen would replace Mr Ahern as Fianna Fáil leader and taoiseach. |
| He was 24 when he was elected to the Dáil in 1984 in a by-election in the Laois-Offaly constituency. It was caused by the death of his father, Ber, at the age of 52. | He was 24 when he was elected to the Dáil in 1984 in a by-election in the Laois-Offaly constituency. It was caused by the death of his father, Ber, at the age of 52. |
| A solicitor and a GAA enthusiast, Mr Cowen has served in six cabinet posts including the important portfolios as minister for finance and minister for foreign affairs. | A solicitor and a GAA enthusiast, Mr Cowen has served in six cabinet posts including the important portfolios as minister for finance and minister for foreign affairs. |