LABOUR PARTY leader Eamon Gilmore has called on Taoiseach Brian Cowen to consider stepping down from his position so that the country could “breathe politically again”.
Speaking as Mr Cowen prepared to address the Fianna Fáil ardfheis today, Mr Gilmore said the Taoiseach might be able to rally his party’s troops but he had lost the confidence of the country.
“I think he has to ask himself some very heart-searching questions, whether at this time his best service to the country would be standing aside and letting the country breathe again politically,” said Mr Gilmore.
His comments came as Opposition sources expressed disappointment at the response of Fianna Fáil to suggestions that there could be an all-party approach to the introduction of an early budget to raise taxes.
Former taoiseach Garret FitzGerald had called for cross-party agreement on the issue, saying the Government needed the support of the Opposition to get the courage it needed to increase tax revenues.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, writing in yesterday’s Irish Times, made a number of suggestions for raising extra taxes, including an increase in the current top rate of tax and a carbon tax.
Employers’ group Ibec added its voice to the debate yesterday, calling on the Government to engage with the main Opposition parties and the social partners to agree on a national recovery plan for the economy.
Ibec director general Turlough O’Sullivan said the Government could not further postpone implementing measures to address the economic crisis, and added that the time for pussy-footing was gone.
However, Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe appeared to rebuff suggestions of an all-party approach yesterday, emphasising that the Government would like Opposition support for its policies. Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes said last night that Mr O’Keeffe and the Taoiseach appeared to be stuck in tribal politics and incapable of rising above it to cope with the economic crisis.
“If the Taoiseach was serious about getting Opposition support he would have been prepared to tone down his political rhetoric but there is no sign of that happening.”
At the opening of the ardfheis last night, Mr Cowen said: “We must face the challenges together. We must work with commitment and unity to ensure our economic survival and defend Irish jobs.
“We must continue to support our indigenous industries and foster the enterprise economy. We in Fianna Fáil will meet the challenge.”