BRIAN COWEN last night said he did not want to have to explain to other European leaders why Ireland had voted down a referendum for a second time.
Addressing his party’s ardchomhairle after being formally elected as Uachtarán Fhianna Fáil, Mr Cowen said he was the person who had to outline why the No side had prevailed in the first Nice referendum, as he was his party’s director for that campaign.
Exhorting the organisation to work tirelessly to encourage a Yes vote in the upcoming referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, Mr Cowen said he did not want to find himself having to go to Brussels as taoiseach to explain a second referendum loss.
Mr Cowen was speaking after he was unanimously elected the seventh leader of Fianna Fáil since the party’s foundation.
In accepting the position, he said it was the greatest honour of his political career to date.
In paying tribute to Bertie Ahern, Mr Cowen said the former taoiseach would be a resource that would always be available to the party.
He also said that one of his objectives would be to care for the less well-off in society. He spoke of creating “caring and compassionate communities” in Ireland.
Mr Cowen was the only nominee for the position at the special meeting of the national executive, attended by more than 50 people.
His nomination was proposed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern and was seconded by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey.
Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan chaired the meeting.