THE GOVERNMENT intends to continue in office until May 2012, the end of its five-year term, despite Opposition predictions that there would be an election next year, Taoiseach Brian Cowen has said.
He also told a press conference on the first day of a Fianna Fáil parliamentary party think-in at a Galway hotel yesterday that the substance of Government policies was important, not just the style of leadership.
Asked if he felt he had “any questions to answer” about his leadership of the party at the beginning of the new Dáil term, Mr Cowen said: “The party is united and the Government is united in the budgetary policies that we are pursuing. These are the policies that are necessary to bring back recovery for the country, and the Government is very coherent in that purpose, and we will continue to implement the policies that are necessary to achieve it.”
When it was put to him that, in the event of the Government being defeated in three byelections expected to be held early next year, there would then have to be a general election, he replied: “That’s not correct. The fact of the matter is we have a Programme for Government to pursue to May 2012 and that’s our objective.”
Asked what he had done to fulfil his commitment to sharpen up his communications style, Mr Cowen said: “I am continuing to lead the party, and lead the Government in the way that I believe is best. We have a coherent Government programme, we are implementing it, and the substance of our policies is what is important, as well as the style of my leadership.”
Later in his private address to the parliamentary party meeting, he said, according to a supplied script, that the Government would be publishing a new trade, tourism and investment strategy “before the end of this month”.
Mr Cowen said: “The Opposition are past masters at highlighting problems, some of which are real and others not, but they have no coherent solutions and refuse to recognise the exceptional potential of the Irish economy.
“In periods of difficulty, it is all too easy to undermine Ireland’s strengths and, as our future depends on recognising and developing these strengths, this is a major mistake on their part.”
He continued: “The Government is determined to ensure that Ireland’s economic recovery is built on the type of innovative, export-led growth that drove our earlier economic expansion.
“While we face another difficult budget ahead, Ireland is returning to growth and with it, we are seeing some signs of an upturn in much-needed confidence.
“As confidence returns and jobs are created, the fortunes of our country and our party will improve. I believe we must hold our nerve and do what we know in our hearts and heads is right. We will use this period of time in Government as one where we will help the country weather the storm and manage Ireland through some of the most difficult economic conditions we have had to confront since the foundation of the State.”
- A man was arrested and later released after a small protest outside the Fianna Fáil meeting yesterday. Supporters of the Galway Says No to Health Cuts campaign staged a demonstration before lunchtime on Taylor's Hill, during which an egg was thrown at the car of Galway West Fianna Fáil TD Frank Fahey.
