Brian Cowen

Brian Cowen (Irish Brian Ó Comhain; born January 10, 1960 in Tullamore, County Offaly ) is an Irish politician and served as of 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011, the Prime Minister ( Taoiseach ) of Ireland, and from 2008 to 22 January 2011, the leader of the ruling Fianna Fáil party.

Brian Cowen studied law at University College Dublin, acquired the license to practice law at the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland in Dublin and worked as a lawyer. From 1984 to 2011 he was a deputy ( Teachta Dala ) for the constituency of Laois - Offaly.

He was from 1992 to 1993 Minister of Labour, 1993 Energy Minister, 1993-1994 Minister of Transport, Energy and Communications, 1997-2000 Minister for Health and Children, 2000 to 2004 and Minister of Foreign Affairs 2004-2008 Minister of Finance. In the first half of 2004, Cowen was also President of the Council of the European Union. June 14, 2007 to May 7, 2008, he was acting Deputy Prime Minister ( Tánaiste ).

On 4 April 2008 Cowen said after the resignation announcement by Bertie Ahern on May 6, 2008 formally announced his candidacy for the party leadership of the Fianna Fáil and the post of Irish Prime Minister; on April 9, he was elected party leader of Fianna Fáil and determined to succeed Ahern to the designated Irish Prime Minister. Both offices have taken on 7 May 2008 Cowen. Since the resignation of his foreign minister Micheál Martin on 19 January 2011, Julian has also held this position.

Cowen's government lost in the wake of the Irish banking crisis tremendously in popularity. Meanwhile Cowen is considered least favorite politicians of all time in Ireland. Among other things, Cowen is accused of having failed the damming of the banking crisis and the pride of the country violated decisively with the flight under the EU bailout. Irish vote against the Lisbon Treaty is interpreted as a protest against the government's policy Cowen. In November 2010, Cowen announced after a vote of confidence to early elections. The date of the elections was determined only under pressure from the coalition partner two months later on 11 March 2011 and then moved up to the 25th of February. On 22 January 2011, he joined the office of party chairman because of persistent criticism from within the Fianna Fáil back.

Cowen is married and has two daughters.