Leaders pay tribute to Brown and wish his successor well

PARTY LEADERS paid tribute in the Dáil to former British prime minister Gordon Brown and extended their congratulations to his successor David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen, who spoke by phone yesterday to Mr Cameron, wished the new prime minister and Mr Clegg well in the formation of a new government.

Mr Cowen told the Dáil he looked forward to meeting the new prime minister “in due course to build on the good relationships that successive governments have been able to establish between the Irish and British administrations in recent times in the hope that we can continue to co-operate and work together on items of common interest”.

He also paid tribute to Mr Brown, whom he had earlier described as a good friend of Ireland. The outgoing prime minister “showed a strong commitment to the implementation of the agreements of which both his government and ours were co-guarantors, and I wish him and his wife and family well for the future.”

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny also wished Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg well. “I pay tribute to the departing prime minister Gordon Brown, particularly for his interest in Northern Ireland and for the work he did there.”

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore thanked Mr Brown for the work “he has done in regard to this country and Northern Ireland” and said “relations between Britain and Ireland greatly improved under the outgoing Labour government, especially in terms of matters relating to Northern Ireland”.

He wished the incoming prime minister and his deputy well, and said: “It is important that there is a good working relationship between the Government and the British government.”