LEADERSHIP:TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has dismissed the suggestion his position as Taoiseach will be "on the line" if Fianna Fáil performs poorly in the forthcoming local and European elections, and two byelections in Dublin.
The Taoiseach said yesterday that as far as he was concerned he was the democratically-elected leader of the Government and the Government would continue in office after the elections.
On his first major public appearance in these mid-term election campaigns, Mr Cowen was asked a number of times if his position would be vulnerable if Fianna Fáil’s results were as disappointing as have been suggested by opinion polls.
He responded by saying that the response Fianna Fáil was getting throughout the country was more positive than people have been suggesting. “What this is about is the Fianna Fáil party contesting elections in difficult economic circumstances. More and more people recognise that this is a party that has the capacity to take those decisions. Others talk about it but are not prepared to support any decisions that are necessary.”
Mr Cowen was speaking at Dundrum Luas station before a joint-canvas with Shay Brennan, the son of the late Séamus Brennan, who is the party’s candidate in the byelection in Dublin South. The election was caused by the death of his father.
Mr Cowen said Mr Brennan was a candidate who could build on the very significant achievements of his later father who was a TD for 30 years and a senior Minister until shortly before his death last year.
Mr Cowen said the fact Mr Brennan jnr was an official with Anglo Irish Bank would have no bearing on the campaign. “He is a hard-working official in the organisation. He has no responsibility in relation to any of the issues that have arisen.”
He said there were rumours around for a long time that RTÉ economics editor George Lee would “be putting his toe in the water” as a Fine Gael candidate.
When asked if the impartiality of Mr Lee’s analysis for RTÉ could be questioned, Mr Cowen said “these are issues to be considered in the context of the campaign”.
He said yesterday’s decision by Pat “The Cope” Gallagher to stand as a candidate in the North West constituency would ensure the party retained its seat.
Asked about the threat posed by Declan Ganley of Libertas in North West, he said he respected all candidates and was not in the business of denigrating rivals.
“We have serious policy issues with Mr Ganley on a whole range of important points regarding Europe.”
He added: “Everybody knows that in this stage of the economic cycle internationally there are difficult decisions to be taken. They are decisions that are necessary. They are not brought forward for any other reason but to protect the country’s best interest. It’s on that basis we are looking for support.”