Brian Cowen quotes

Brian Cowen is an Irish politician who served as Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland from 2008 to 2011. His leadership coincided with a major economic crisis in the country. He played a significant role in shaping Ireland's response to that challenging period. Here are 12 of his quotes:

' I was reared in a pub – as a young fellow, serving in the pub I learnt far more there about human nature than I learnt in any university or school. I think it gave me a great insight into people. (Brian Cowen)
I think it is fair to say that 2007 represents a turning point for the Irish economy. View quote
Brian Cowen
I believe it is the best method to get the buy-in for the road we have to travel. I believe it is a problem-solving process about how we collectively come forward with a strategy to deal with the issue. View quote
Brian Cowen
As long as I am running this Government I will run the Government as I see fit...as I believe in, based on my philosophy. View quote
Brian Cowen
Hopefully that will be seen as a response, a leadership responding to an issue and therefore one's authority, while it's not as high if you didn't have the problem, it does mean that people say 'well he used his authority to come up with a solution in double-quick time that met with broader public acceptance. View quote
Brian Cowen
There were a couple of occasions when it was passed around – and, unlike President Clinton, I did inhale!. View quote
Brian Cowen
I've come up through the ranks of this parliamentary party and let me tell you the principles that have guided me on that journey since my first election 25 years ago: Loyalty to the party, service to our country and a determination to always do my best for the people. They are principles that still guide me. View quote
Brian Cowen
We need to get a handle on this, will you ring those fuckers. View quote
Brian Cowen
However, we must not lose sight of the fact that the fundamentals of the economy are still good. View quote
Brian Cowen
We have seen already how resistant public opinion is, firstly to comprehension of the new paradigm in which we have to operate; and secondly, to the rationale behind the decisions we have had to take. View quote
Brian Cowen
That deterioration, if you like, has to be addressed in the context of the Government being prepared to look at further programmes to see what way we can ensure that going into next year, as challenging as it may be, to see in what way we can seek to help stabilise the finances further. (Brian Cowen)
Yeah, well, there's a mirror in the toilet if you want to go in there and talk to them. View quote
Brian Cowen