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FORMER TAOISEACH AND Fianna Fáil leader Brian Cowen is “making a steady recovery” following a stroke last July, his brother and Minister for Agriculture Barry Cowen has said.
Barry Cowen was appointed to the ministerial role this weekend. He has previously held frontbench spokesperson roles on Environment and Local Government, and Social Protection.
Speaking to RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland, Barry Cowen said his brother was “hugely proud and delighted” to see his appointment to the role.
“He continues to make progress and he’s very much involved with me and my career,” he said.
Brian Cowen (60) took over from Bertie Ahern as Taoiseach in 2008 and held the position until 2011 when he stood down from politics.
Last July after he had attended hospital for a separate matter, Cowen “collapsed and he had a very bad stroke, and a bad bleed to the brain”, his wife Mary previously told Midlands 103.
He spent five months in St Vincent’s Hospital and before moving on to rehab.
When asked about his brother’s health this morning, Barry Cowen said that “he’s making a steady recovery, thankfully”.
“He hopes to be home with the rest of us in the coming weeks and months and we look forward to that,” he said.
Speaking of being appointed as Minister for Agriculture, Cowen added: “My emotions, no more than anybody else who was given the privilege to serve in Cabinet, was a combination of being excited and delighted and nervous and worried, but very proud.”
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Best wishes in your recovery
Best wishes. Health is your wealth
Congratulations Barry, the hard work starts now and no doubt you are well up for the task. Best wishes to Brian and his family on his long road to recovery.
Best wishes Barry and let’s hope Brian will.be home with you all again soon.
Brian never looked a picture of health and politics is a very unhealthy lifestyle. Unfortunately it looks like it caught up with him in the end. I didn’t agree with some of his policies but I appreciate his service to our country and wish him a full and speedy recovery.
.change.org/p/dail-eireann-barry-cowen-to-be-dismissed-from-his-new-position-of-minister-for-agriculture-in-ireland
This man condones puppy farming where animals are kept in terrible conditions to be sold for huge profits.
@Johnny 5: Signed
@The Risen: SF have condoned worse….a lot worse.
@Canyon: sorry bud but this is not a party thing its a welfare thing. This is not a sinn fein thing. If Mary Lou or even gandhi was doing it I’d sign.
@Canyon: Hope Brian Cowan makes further progress.
Johnny 5 condoned the ‘bumping off’ (as he put it) of Lawlor on the Belfast murder thread but that’s ok cause he cares about puppies!
@Fionn Darland: Puppies don’t chop children up and discard their body parts around the housing estates of Dublin. You seem more concerned by the death of an absolute psycho than you do about animal cruelty.
@The Risen: You’ll be busy signing petitions and being outraged here and on Twitter for the next few years.
@Johnny 5: The rule of law should apply to all J5. Some of us still don’t approve of a shoot to kill policy, even against psychos. I am 100% against animal cruelty by the way but will not sign a petition recommended by you. FF living rent free in sf heads!
@Fionn Darland: The rule of law? You mean the revolving door for serious criminals where it’s a gravy train for judges, barristers and lawyers! Don’t make me laugh.
Politics definitely doesn’t come into something like that….Best wishes to Brian Cowen on his recovery
I wish Mr Cowen a full and speedy recovery back to full health.
Speedy recovery to Mr. Cowen and best wishes
To his family.
Good News
Brian was such a down to earth individual. Wishing his continued recovery.
Speedy Recovery to Brian Cowan.
Oh that’s good news. He was on my mind since Barry’s appointment.
Great day for Barry and his family and delighted to hear Brian is improving, looking forward to him making a speedy and full recovery.
Darragh Colleary must be rightly pissed off – Biffo Junior got a ministry ahead of him.
I wish Brian Cowen a full recovery.
As for his brother Barry, I hope he will be removed from his ministerial position in the department of agriculture. He will be a disaster for animal welfare.
A speedy recovery and I hope he has a long life.
I hope he makes a full recovery and one day faces justice for what he has done. If he loses his memory or speech that possibility will be taken from us sadly.
@SC: I hope it never happens to you or any of your loves ones,
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