Cowen denies secret deal with Ireland's Ahern (CORRUPTION IN IRELAND ALERT)

The Daily Telegraph ^ | October 6, 2002 | The Daily Telegraph

[MadIvan]

Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs has insisted there was "no truth" in reports of a secret deal between himself and Bertie Ahern over the leadership of their Fianna Fail party.

For the uninitiated, Fianna Fail is sort of like the Democrats of Ireland. And about as corrupt. - Ivan

Brian Cowen denied reports of an agreement that he would take over as leader of the party when the time came for Mr Ahern to gave up the post. Mr Cowen, speaking at a Nice Treaty news conference in Dublin, said he did not believe such rumours were distracting the public from issues surrounding the forthcoming referendum.

He said of a report in the Sunday Tribune today: "There is no truth to it and I don't know how many times one has to say this for it to be no longer a distraction for some, because I don't think the public are distracted. The public are focusing on the issues.

" I can assure you that the leader of our party has our full support and will be continuing on with his leadership responsibilities. We have a job to do and I would just say to the public not to be distracted or put any weight behind a lot of this speculation and theorising that's going on. There are no secret deals with anybody."

His remarks came at the end of a news conference in which coalition partner Fianna Fail promoted its bid for a Yes vote in the Nice Treaty referendum in two weeks.

Today Mr Cowen and other Fianna Fail party members said a Yes vote was needed to protect and secure Irish jobs, referring to "unprecedented job creation" Ireland had seen over the last few years.

Mr Cowen said: "I urge the Irish people to look at the evidence and listen to the people who create jobs in this country. People who want to protect the jobs we have created in recent years and make sure we create more jobs for our expanding population should vote Yes."

False. The EU is not going to throw Ireland out of the single market because they vote no. This is fear mongering of the worst kind. - Ivan

Ratification of the Nice Treaty on October 19 would allow a number of former communist states and other current non-members to join the European Union. The treaty cannot technically be ratified until the people of Ireland vote to change their constitution.

[MadIvan]

Just more grist for the mill. Big trouble in Ireland - and it won't end until Fianna Fail is kicked out.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Happygal]

Cowen denying he is standing in the wings to take over from Bertie! HA!

Bertie will be saying 'Et tu, Brute?'

However, putting Cowen at the helm could be a good thing. He is the ugliest man in the party, has no charisma, and is known for being boorish.....I can see the electorate going off him pretty rapidly.