EU SUMMIT:TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has said he retains the confidence of his TDs and Senators after his poor radio interview on Tuesday, and dismissed suggestions the affair would have a corrosive impact on them or the public.
“Obviously, we all have to draw lessons when incidents like this happen, and I’ve, as I say, provided my statement yesterday to the public and to the people and explained the context of all of that,” Mr Cowen said.
Saying he would lead Fianna Fáil into the next general election, Mr Cowen told reporters after an EU summit in Brussels that there was nothing to support the suggestion the controversy would undermine confidence in his leadership.
“I don’t think there’s any evidence; certainly at this meeting today none of this was raised with me at all,” he said.
Referring to his television interview on Wednesday, Mr Cowen said he had acknowledged that his radio performance the previous morning “wasn’t the best” and had explained the situation insofar as he believed it should be explained.
“To people who felt there was any disrespect, that certainly wasn’t the case,” he said.
“I was hoarse all day that day. I just want to make the point that from our point of view we have a lot of work to do in terms of providing good Government for the country and we’re determined to do it.”
He said “yes” when asked if he believed he still commands the support of a majority of his backbenchers and went on to say that the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party had a “very good meeting” at its think-in in Galway on Monday and Tuesday.
“The substance of the meeting was genuinely very helpful to us all in terms of not just understanding the challenges that confront us but the fact that there are strengths in our economy that we need to emphasise at the present time, and that the plans that we have in place are bringing about recovery.”
Mr Cowen was also asked whether he would change anything in his leadership style, communications strategy or lifestyle as a result of the controversy.
“From my own point of view in terms of my leadership style, I’ve been as inclusive as ever and I believe those who work with me in Cabinet and in the parliamentary party will recognise that.
“We’re here to do a job together. Everyone has a talent and a contribution to make, and throughout the last preparation to the budget, for example, we had very many discussions at parliamentary party level. and indeed extra Cabinet meetings, and went through all of the political implications of what we had to consider.”
Mr Cowen said he had trust and great confidence in the people he worked with, respect for the positions they have and the political attributes they brought to the job.
“It’s our firm belief that there isn’t a coherent alternative available on the other side of the House on the big issues of the day,” he said.