Tanggal 7 Mei 2008 Cowen dicalonkan oleh Dáil Éireann sebagai Taoiseach. Ia terpilih dengan 88 suara banding 76, dan ditunjuk oleh Presiden Mary McAleese. Ia kemudian membentuk Pemerintah Irlandia ke-28.
Kutipan
"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."
"I think it is fair to say that 2007 represents a turning point for the Irish economy".[5]
"However, we must not lose sight of the fact that the fundamentals of the economy are still good."[6]
"Yeah, well, there's a mirror in the toilet if you want to go in there and talk to them."[7]
"We need to get a handle on this, will you ring those fuckers." – Brian Cowen kepada Mary Coughlan di Dáil 21 Mei 2008.[8][9]
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'[10]
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.[11]
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.[12]
^"Nominated for FF leader: Statement by Mr Brian Cowen TD". Fianna Fáil website. 4 April 2008. Diarsipkan dari versi asli tanggal 2008-05-15. Diakses tanggal 2008-12-16.Parameter |accessdaymonth= yang tidak diketahui akan diabaikan (bantuan); Parameter |accessyear= yang tidak diketahui mengabaikan (|access-date= yang disarankan) (bantuan)
^Tansey, Paul and Beesley, Arthur (19 October 2007). "Tough Budget on way as growth slows down"". The Irish Times. Diarsipkan dari versi asli tanggal 2008-05-16. Diakses tanggal 2008-12-16.Parameter |accessdaymonth= yang tidak diketahui akan diabaikan (bantuan); Parameter |accessyear= yang tidak diketahui mengabaikan (|access-date= yang disarankan) (bantuan)Pemeliharaan CS1: Banyak nama: authors list (link)
^
McCarthy, Justine (28 October 2007). "Cowen: The Anointed One". Sunday Tribune.Parameter |accessyear= yang tidak diketahui mengabaikan (|access-date= yang disarankan) (bantuan); Parameter |accessdaymonth= yang tidak diketahui akan diabaikan (bantuan)
