Kenny challenges Cowen's suitability to lead Yes vote

LISBON TREATY:THE FINE Gael leader challenged the Taoiseach's suitability to lead the Yes campaign in the next Lisbon Treaty referendum following last Friday's elections.

Enda Kenny said that arising from the “catastrophe for the Government’’, they must deal with the consequences of the last referendum.

“I hope the Irish people will pass the Lisbon referendum whenever it is decided to hold it,’’ he added.

“I am concerned, however, that arising from the vote of no confidence by the people last Friday, that the Taoiseach now faces a serious problem in attempting to lead our country to a point where its people will vindicate that in which we believe in terms of the Lisbon referendum and pass it.’’ Speaking during the confidence debate, Mr Kenny insisted that “in terms of credibility and authority, moral and governmental’’, Brian Cowen faced a serious problem arising from the elections.

He said that TDs who voted with the Government were saying that they did not respect the voice of the people given through the vote.

He added: “They are saying the Government is doing a good job, which I reject.

“I, therefore, call on every deputy to consider their position when they vote tomorrow.

“The Government has lost it and will not recover. It is time for it go.

“Before the vote is taken tomorrow, I call on the Taoiseach to use his constitutional authority to go to the park, call an election and let the people decide what programme is in their best interests and which can be delivered by a Government that cares.’’ Mr Kenny said he found it peculiar, in an amusing way, to hear Minister after Minister say that every government was faced with the “gale force international recession and that they are all suffering’’.

He added that where governments had faced tough decisions, and made them in the interests of their people, with equality and fairness in mind, the public had understood and rewarded them.

“What happened here is that the Government floundered around from disaster since Deputy Cowen took over the reins of Taoiseach,’’ he added.

“He did not listen to anybody for the past 12 months, but, by God, the people came out in their hundreds of thousands and gave their verdict through the only weapon that they have which is the most powerful of all: the vote through the secrecy of the ballot box.’’ Mr Kenny said it was time the people were allowed to adjudicate on plans put before them by the various parties so they could make their decision, give their authority and give a mandate to a government that could then bring stability to dealing with the public finances.

“That should be a Fine Gael government, which would create a fairer society, bear in mind what social justice is, develop an ability to deal with waste and tackle these problems in a fair and progressive way,’’ he added.