Lenihan says 'very lonely job' ahead

FF REACTION:BRIAN COWEN has been told he faces a "very lonely job" ahead of him as taoiseach. Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan said yesterday he made the remark when proposing Mr Cowen for the Fianna Fáil leadership.

Mr Lenihan has been mentioned as a possible tánaiste in Mr Cowen's cabinet, but he said yesterday he had not lobbied for the position.

"The reality is that Brian Cowen will consider all these matters. You don't lobby. You wait for the famous phone call. I don't believe, by the way, that he is the type of man who can be lobbied. He has a very strong mind of his own.

"I said when I proposed him at the parliamentary party that his job is now a very lonely job. It's a very lonely job he's in now. He has to make that call himself. He has to see how the different pieces of the jigsaw can be fitted together to best suit this country. That's his call, and his alone."

Flanked by Minister for the Environment John Gormley at the launch of an anti-graffiti initiative, Mr Lenihan said he was confident that the programme for government agreed between Fianna Fáil and the Green Party would be implemented.

"As a Fianna Fáil Minister I can say it is refreshing to have two Green Ministers at the Cabinet table articulating a clear perspective from a Green point of view, and we're determined to make progress on the things that do matter to the country."

Mr Gormley said the presence of both Ministers showed there was a good working relationship in the Government. "I think that will continue. You've seen over the last couple of months how we have been implementing the programme for government."

Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea was taken to hospital yesterday and operated on to remove kidney stones shortly before Mr Cowen's election as leader designate of Fianna Fáil.

Taken by his driver to St Vincent's, the Limerick East TD was operated on successfully shortly after arriving there, and he will stay in hospital "for a day, or two", said his spokeswoman.

The Minister was in "excruciating pain" as he went from his hotel to Leinster House for the 9am parliamentary party meeting, his spokeswoman told The Irish Times. Returning to his hotel, Mr O'Dea was attended to by the Minister of State for Health, Dr Jimmy Devins, who recommended that he go to hospital.