MICHEÁL MARTIN:The Minister for Enterprise,
Trade and Employment declared his support for Brian Cowen yesterday
shortly after 8.15am. On RTÉ's Morning Ireland he said: "I
certainly won't be
contesting the election".
He said Mr Cowen was "a person I could give 100 per cent support
given the breadth, depth and
strength of character he has shown and on the policy areas
that he has presided over. In my view there is not a necessity for
an election."
Asked about his own long-term ambitions to be taoiseach, he
said: "I'm very happy to serve whoever is elected leader of Fianna
Fáil. You should only be in politics to make a difference . .
. "I think there is no politician out there that at some stage does
not want to be taoiseach. I'm making it clear that this is
certainly not this time . . . "I have worked with Brian Cowen
over the last number of years. He is a politician with a clear
focus on what the country needs with his foreign affairs experience
and his experience at the Department of Finance."
MARY COUGHLAN: JUST AFTER one o'clock, the Minister for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan, came out in support of Brian Cowen, having earlier declined to rule herself out of a leadership contest in an interview on local radio.
In a statement released by the Fianna Fáil press office at 1pm, Ms Coughlan said: "Brian has demonstrated the highest level of political ability and skill since first being elected to the Dáil in June, 1984.
"His leadership qualities are well known and his experience is
second to none." She added: "He is the right person to lead Fianna
Fáil into a new chapter in our proud history and I will be
supporting him to
become the next leader of our party, should a contest arise."
Earlier she was asked on her
local radio station, Ocean FM, if she was interested in
contesting the leadership.
She replied: "Everybody would be interested in leading the party
at the end of the day. "What I want to see is a smooth transition
where the loyalty and camaraderie and the working relationships we
have
within the parliamentary party without rancour would
continue."
MARY HANAFIN:MINISTER for Education Mary Hanafin went on RTÉ Radio One's News at One to rule out contesting the party leadership and to support Brian Cowen.
Ms Hanafin said that while "there isn't anybody at ministerial level who wouldn't like the position of taoiseach", she had decided not to run for the top job.
"This certainly is not my time and I believe it is the Tánaiste's time to be taoiseach." However, Ms Hanafin said she would be "not averse" to becoming tánaiste. "A woman has held that job before," she said. " . . . I'll be very happy to serve in whatever position I am asked to serve in."
DERMOT AHERN:The Minister for Foreign Affairs
announced his support for Mr Cowen at the conclusion of a joint
press conference with Northern Secretary Shaun Woodward at Iveagh
House
yesterday afternoon. "Quite some time ago I made up my mind
that I would not go for the leadership in the near future. I had
clearly decided in conjunction with my wife and my family that I
just felt that it wasn't for me at this time.
"If and when the nominations are open, I won't be putting my
name forward. I indicated to
Brian Cowen within minutes of [the Taoiseach's] announcement
that I wouldn't be going forward. I indicated that if there was a
contest, I would support him.
"I believe that Brian has all the attributes that are necessary for the Fianna Fáil leader and I have no doubt that he will go on to lead the country as leader of Fianna Fáil and as Taoiseach with the same distinction as previous taoisigh.
. . . and finally
. . . . . NOEL DEMPSEY:The Minister for Transport refused initially to make any announcement about his intentions, but he emphasised that this was in deference to party procedures and not because he was considering his options.
"I am a former whip and was involved in the procedure the last time around and that's my way of doing things," Mr Dempsey said early yesterday afternoon before a decision was made by the party executive on the procedures for the contest.
However, he issued a statement yesterday evening saying: "Now that the procedures have been agreed and Brian Cowen has confirmed to me that he will be a candidate I am happy to confirm that I will be supporting him in the vote for party leader and on the nomination for taoiseach."