Sir - The odds-on favourite in the Foreign Affairs race, Brian Cowen, cantered home in an easy win. Having failed in his attempt last spring to become the EU Commissioner, Mr Cowen was almost certainly leaning heavily on the Taoiseach this time around. But the question remains: does Mr Cowen's curriculum vitae match the job requirements for the Foreign Affairs portfolio?
Vincent Browne raises the question (Opinion, January 26th) and concludes that he is not the best-qualified person, that he has no known expertise relevant to the position, and has had no known interest or track record in the field. Those Celtic cubs out there who are eager to advance in their careers must be a bit baffled. After all, are they not continually being exhorted to get the right experience in their CVs?
In 1994, as Minister for Energy, Mr Cowen had responsibility for mining licences. He was about to grant a licence to Arcon Resources for a mine when a reporter divulged that the Minister had shares in that company. Since Ministers are not supposed to have a personal interest in matters covered by their portfolio, Mr Cowen made a Dail statement: `I am genuinely sorry that an oversight on my part in failing to link, however inadvertently, a nominal share-holding in the then Conroy Petroleum and Exploration Company, with a possible perception of a future conflict of interest in dealing with a mining application by Arcon, should be a source of some embarrassment to me and my colleagues."
Thus, his apology was not for creating a conflict of interest, but for causing himself and his colleagues "some embarrassment". Technically he was in breach of Cabinet guidelines, and tradition suggests he should have paid the price and resigned.
Vincent Browne writes that "it is believed that it doesn't matter who represents us abroad, provided they reflect the State's essential interests within the European Union, keep on the right [sic] side of the Americans, do not embarrass us socially and turn up on time for crucial Dail votes when there isn't a pair'. He concludes that "Brian Cowen gets the Foreign Affairs portfolio because it is not the Health portfolio, because he thinks it represents a promotion and because Bertie Ahern thinks he owes him one." And you thought it was because he was the best man for the job? Welcome to the world of realpolitik! - Yours, etc.,
Myles Crowe, Old Brewery Lane, Clonakilty, Co Cork.