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|seq=11

|seq=11

|country=the Republic of Ireland

|country=the Republic of Ireland

|term_start=7 May 2008

|term_start=May 7, 2008

|term_end=Incumbent

|term_end=March 9, 2011

|party=Fianna Fáil

|party=Fianna Fáil

|previous=Bertie Ahern

|previous=Bertie Ahern

|next=

|next=Enda Kenny

|office2=

|office2=

|seq2=

|seq2=

}}

}}

'''Brian Cowen, TD''' (born 10 January, 1960) is the current [[Taoiseach]] (Prime Minister) of the [[Republic of Ireland]]. Prior to becoming Taoiseach on 7 May 2008 after the resignation of his predecessor [[Bertie Ahern]], Cowen served as Minister for Finance from 2004 to 2008, as well as holding other important portfolios prior to this. As well as being Taoiseach he is the current leader of the governing centre-right [[Fianna Fáil]] party.

'''Brian Cowen, TD''' (born 10 January, 1960) was [[Taoiseach]] (Prime Minister) of the [[Republic of Ireland]] from 2008 to 2001. Prior to becoming Taoiseach on May 7, 2008, after the resignation of his predecessor [[Bertie Ahern]], Cowen served as Minister for Finance from 2004 to 2008, as well as holding other important portfolios prior to this. As well as being Taoiseach he is the current leader of the governing centre-right [[Fianna Fáil]] party.

==Early life and political career==

==Early life and political career==

==Cabinet (2008 - )==

==Cabinet (2008 - )==

Brian Cowen's government controls the 30th Irish [[Dáil]] (parliament). The government is a coalition of Fianna Fail and the Green Party. The coalition had also included one member of the [[Progressive Democrats]] (PD) party, which disbanded in November 2008. The sole PD member in the government, Mary Harney, was allowed retain her cabinet seat as an Independent TD.

Brian Cowen's government controlled the 30th Irish [[Dáil]] (parliament). The government was a coalition of Fianna Fail and the Green Party. The coalition also included one member of the [[Progressive Democrats]] (PD) party, which disbanded in November 2008. The sole PD member in the government, Mary Harney, was allowed retain her cabinet seat as an Independent TD.

As of 2008, the [[President of Ireland]] during Cowen's tenure is [[Mary McAleese]], while [[Fine Gael]] leader [[Enda Kenny]] serves as Leader of the Opposition.

The [[President of Ireland]] during Cowen's tenure was [[Mary McAleese]], while [[Fine Gael]] leader [[Enda Kenny]] served as Leader of the Opposition.

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

[[Category:Ireland]]

[[Category:Ireland]]

[[Category:Irish Taoisigh]]

[[Category:Irish Taoisigh]]