Emotional tribute to Taoiseach from brother Barry

New Fianna Fáil Deputy Barry Cowen said it was a privilege to be elected and pledged to look after the electorate. He made an emotional speech, paying tribute to his brother Brian and John Moloney, to huge applause. "I'd like to pay tribute and to thank, what has been one of the finest exponents of public representation that this county has ever seen or ever will see. I make no apology for that being a family member or not. Brian Cowen has given for this county and for this country something that will never be seen again," he said. "Enjoy the rest of your life, God knows you deserve it." He thanked the electorate for voting and for the high turnout. "It is they whose worries, whose anxieties, whose fears but more importantly, whose hopes and aspirations and through the process of this campaign, we would have taken on board those various emotions," he said. "It is our immense duty to take them on board and to affect reconciliation, to affect the sort of good governance that is expected of us, whether we're in opposition or in government." He defended his party and the decisions taken. "The tough decisions taken by the outgoing government weren't, God knows, taken in the interest of Fianna Fáil or weren't taken, God knows, in the interests of popularity, they were taken in the interests of our country, and the new government is well aware of that." Deputy Cowen met with his party leader and fellow party deputies in Dáil Eireann on Tuesday, only hours after he was elected. He said it was a reflective meeting. "It was one of reflection, we've been wounded, we haven't been mortally wounded. From an organisation and a party perspective, the focus is on renewal and we have to rebuild the party, we can't look back. I have a new, fresh mandate and I want to give the people the representation that they've grown accustomed to." He also said that there was no speculation that he might get any kind of a front-bench position. Meanwhile, the Offaly branch of Fianna Fáil will meet next week to discuss who will replace Deputy Barry Cowen on Offaly County Council. The current Leas-Cathaoirleach Fianna Fáil's Danny Owens will now become the Cathaoirleach, until a new one is elected as normal when the term is up in June.