Text of statement by Brian Cowen
EARLIER TODAY I submitted my nomination to the Chief Whip of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, Tom Kitt TD, for the position of Uachtarán Fianna Fáil from May 7th on the planned resignation of our current leader, Deputy Bertie Ahern, TD.
I have been formally nominated by Dublin West TD Brian Lenihan and seconded by Mary Coughlan, TD for Donegal South West. I want to thank them and all those who have publicly supported my candidacy.
I have a deep and abiding affection and respect for my party, its history and traditions.
In my 24 years as a public representative
I have come to appreciate the huge commitment and effort of the thousands of party members and supporters who are the lifeblood of the organisation.
It is on their behalf that those of us who are members of the parliamentary party advance its interests and serve those of the public through our work in the Oireachtas.
I have been involved in active politics since 1984 and have seen our party undergo many changes over that time.
On Wednesday I remarked on the extraordinary work done by Bertie Ahern in strengthening Fianna Fáil's position as the dominant force in Irish political life and in modernising the party to reflect the Ireland of today.
Any aspiring leader of Fianna Fáil has to be conscious of the standard of organisation that has been set by our outgoing president.
I have witnessed this work from close quarters and it is with the greatest possible respect for Bertie Ahern's contribution to our party's welfare, and with genuine humility, that I put my name forward.
It follows that I would be deeply honoured if my parliamentary colleagues determine that I should succeed the Taoiseach as party leader and to be their nominee for the then vacant position of Taoiseach.