TAOISEACH INTERVIEW:TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen has said he is "extremely sorry" for the situation the country finds itself in.
Mr Cowen said he “apologised unconditionally” for the state of the country’s finances and the severe adjustment needed to reduce the deficit.
However, he added that he still intended to lead his party into the upcoming election.
“I am extremely sorry that we are in this situation. Everyone in this country is, and I take a responsibility – as Taoiseach day and night, as leader of the Government, I’ve been seeking to deal with it.
"I have said it from day one that I am sorry we are in this situation, but it is my job, and it is the job of all of us, to move on and get this country moving back to where we have to get it," he said during an extended interview on RTÉ Radio's News at One.
The Taoiseach claimed the Government had acted on the “best possible advice available to it” during the financial crisis.
He also defended his actions as minister for finance, claiming he was the first minister to seek to calm the property sector by removing tax reliefs.
Mr Cowen said he believed many of the gains of the boom years could be safeguarded.
“I’m proud of the fact that during the good times we were able to make many social gains as well as economic advances . . . and it does nothing for the confidence of this country to suggest that after the economic tsunami which hit us in 2008, everything has gone out with the sea.
“I believe we can manage this to the extent where we can maintain many of those gains and in future regain some of those lost.”
The Taoiseach said he still planned on leading Fianna Fáil in the next election despite widespread rumours of a heave against him.
“We have a party that is going to fight this election under my leadership,” said Mr Cowen, who denied Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan was one of those plotting behind his back
The Taoiseach said he did not consider calling an election after the Green Party announced it was to pull out of Government because it was “absolutely critical” for the four-year plan to be completed and the Budget passed.
He also claimed the next Government would also have to take tough decisions to aid economic recovery. “Whoever governs this country over the next four years better be prepared to take the decisions and make sure we can sustain growth and have a future,” he said.
