The new Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, is to meet the Northern Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson, early next week as the two governments prepare to deal with another crisis in the peace process over weapons decommissioning.
As the Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, appeared last night to rule out decommissioning before Gen de Chastelain's crucial report on Monday, Mr Cowen yesterday refused to be drawn on the issue on his first day in his new job. He said he would await Gen de Chastelain's report.
Mr Cowen is expected to attend a meeting between the Taoiseach and a senior SDLP delegation this afternoon. A meeting with Mr Mandelson is expected to take place early next week, probably in Dublin.
In a speech in Newry yesterday, Mr Adams urged unionists to be patient on the decommissioning issue. "I understand why unionists and others want decommissioning now," he said, but he warned: "It is not easy to get the IRA, or indeed any of the armed groups, to do this speedily. This is the reality."
Mr Cowen faces an intensive introduction to his new post. His appointment yesterday as Minister for Foreign Affairs was widely expected after days of speculation that he would get the post.
Mr Micheal Martin's move from Education to replace Mr Cowen as Minister for Health was also widely expected.
The Cabinet moves were completed by the move of Dr Michael Woods to Education, and the nomination of Minister of State Mr Frank Fahey to full Cabinet rank as Minister for the Marine.
Mr Ahern has traditionally been cautious in making changes to his frontbench and yesterday's reshuffle does not amount to a major reshaping of the Government. However, it was the largest reshuffle by Mr Ahern since he became party leader in 1994.
The Taoiseach hopes the appointment of a Minister from the west will boost the party in the region. Mr Fahey said yesterday Mr Ahern wanted him not only to be Minister for the Marine but "minister for Connacht".
Mr Fahey, who said he had now achieved a lifetime ambition, was formally appointed and received his seal of office from the President, Mrs McAleese, yesterday afternoon at Aras an Uachtarain. The Cabinet reshuffle was necessitated by the retirement of Mr David Andrews as minister for foreign affairs, announced by him a week ago.
Next Tuesday, the Government will appoint Mr Eoin Ryan and Ms Mary Hanafin as Ministers of State. They will replace Mr Fahey and Mr Chris Flood, whose decision to move to the backbenches yesterday on health grounds was the only surprise of Mr Ahern's reshuffle.