Cowen says party facing election with determination

PRESS CONFERENCE:TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen said he was very pleased his continued leadership of Fianna Fáil had been "vindicated" by the vote of the parliamentary party.

Speaking immediately after the result of the confidence motion was announced, Mr Cowen said he had reluctantly accepted the resignation of Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin but they remained good friends.

Fianna Fáil was very determined now to face into the election and very proud that it had done what was necessary for the country.

“It’s never the wrong time to do the right thing. We have been fighting for the country [and] for its very survival against the greatest economic and financial crisis we have seen in over 80 years,” the Taoiseach said.

The implementation of the Government’s four-year plan would revive the fortunes of the country, improve living standards and revive opportunities.

Mr Cowen said he and Mr Martin had a discussion after the parliamentary party meeting. Mr Martin had told him he was writing him a letter of resignation and felt “honour-bound” to do so based on the stand he had taken.

“I have accepted it reluctantly, but understand he is of the view that is what needs to be done, to send a strong confirmation that there are consequences to the stand he took.”

He said their conversation was amicable and Mr Martin remained a very good friend. “I acknowledge that it is from the best of motivations to ensure accountability that he wishes to do so. [We had] a mutually respectful campaign and we think no less of each other,” he told RTÉ’s Nine O’Clock News.

Mr Cowen said he did not intend seeking further resignations. He declined to reveal his margin of victory, other than saying the tellers of the vote had told him he enjoyed the continued support of the party.

A short time earlier, Government Chief Whip John Curran confirmed Mr Cowen had won the vote.

Announcing the outcome on the plinth of Leinster House at about 9.15pm, Mr Curran said Mr Cowen’s position had been strengthened by the vote.

“There’s a line in the sand and we can move forward.”

Mr Curran described the party meeting as forthright, amicable and businesslike and said there was no “bad feeling” expressed.

“This brings an end to this issue, the party is united behind Brian Cowen as leader and we move forward with the National Recovery Plan and preparations for a general election.”

Mr Curran declined to reveal the margin of victory for Mr Cowen but did say the outcome was very conclusive. “Ballots have been shredded and there will be no numbers given.”

He denied Ireland’s international reputation had been damaged by the disputes within Fianna Fáil and said the vote had brought clarity and finality to the situation.

TDs had walked out of the meeting as friends and there had been no hostility or animosity, Mr Curran said.

Mr Curran said the meeting started at about 5.45pm and the Taoiseach spoke for about half an hour. The motion of confidence was formally seconded by Tánaiste Mary Coughlan and Micheál Martin spoke opposing the motion.

The motion was interrupted by a Dáil vote but voting concluded just after 9pm. Seventeen speakers contributed to the debate, but Mr Curran declined to detail what individual TDs had said.

Mr Curran said Mr Cowen enjoyed the unanimous support of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party following his victory.

Speaking before Mr Martin announced his resignation from Cabinet, Mr Curran said Mr Martin’s ministerial position was a matter for himself.