MANIFESTO LAUNCH:FIANNA FÁIL is fighting hard for every seat in the elections on June 5th and is not anticipating a bad result, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said yesterday at the launch of his party's European election campaign.
Mr Cowen said he was acutely aware of the concerns that people had in the current economic circumstances, but he insisted the Government was adopting the necessary policies to get the country back into a position where growth could return.
“There are many people in this country who recognise the fact that we are taking the necessary decisions to get recovery under way,” he said.
The Taoiseach attacked the Opposition saying Fine Gael had criticised the Government for not cutting enough, while Labour thought it was possible for the country to spend its way out of the recession.
He said Fianna Fáil was far more representative and more deeply involved in communities than any other political organisation and was determined to get across the message that the current policies were necessary.
Asked by reporters how the Government would respond to a bad result and whether his leadership would be an issue, Mr Cowen said: “We don’t anticipate that we are not going to do a job in the elections.
“We are already campaigning strongly and are communicating to the public why certain policy decisions are being made.”
The Taoiseach said Fianna Fáil in Government, and in the European Parliament, would ensure the difficulties the country faced were overcome sooner rather than later.
They also wanted to work with our EU partners to reform the banking sector.
“Most importantly, we want future generations to benefit from the same European co-operation which has been pivotal to our development over the last 35 years.
“Since Ireland’s entry into the then EEC under Fianna Fáil’s leadership, we have continuously punched above our weight as a nation. . . We reject the idea that debate on Europe must conform to the distorted approach adopted by Eurosceptics.
“We believe Europe’s record and capacities are too great for it to be on the defensive,” he said.
Mr Cowen added that in recent weeks and months it had become even more clear that it was vital Ireland stayed pro-European.
“We must not join with those forces working against the EU by pushing an isolationist approach. There is no doubt that a vote for anti-EU candidates in this election is against Irish interests.
“It can only hurt Irish jobs; damage Irish agriculture; hinder Irish enterprise and, in particular, jeopardise inward investment, which has been a cornerstone to our economic development.”
Mr Cowen said he wanted to assure the Irish electorate that a vote for a Fianna Fáil candidate was a vote for a pro-EU, a pro-job creation and a pro-farming agenda.
It would also send a clear signal that Ireland was open for business.
He pledged that Fianna Fáil MEPs would work tirelessly to renew the Cap as a vital element in supporting farm families and the rural economy, to promote institutional reform to bring the union’s workings closer to citizens and ensure strong action on areas such as climate change and energy security.
They would also push for the particular needs of Ireland’s regions to be recognised, especially in terms of investing in training and business support.
“In advance of June 5th, I ask the people to think long and hard about what is in this country’s long-term best interests.” Mr Cowen added that Fianna Fáil was “a co-ordinated and cohesive team who are willing to identify solutions and then take the hard decisions to implement them”.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen and his predecessor Bertie Ahern met in Dublin’s East Wall last night to lend their support to Dublin Central byelection candidate Maurice Ahern.
The former taoiseach said Fianna Fáil had a “strong base” in the area and that the constituency had been “very good” to the party.
He said Maurice had worked hard with him in the area for many years and he was glad to have time to lend his support to his campaign. “It’s unlike other times, when I had to go to other constituencies. The Taoiseach is working hard at that.”
He thanked Mr Cowen for coming to see the developments that had taken place in the area and said the “visionary leader” was now looking to its future.
Mr Cowen said tremendous developments had taken place in Dublin Central and a “strong, positive campaign” was being undertaken by an “outstanding candidate”.
“The record of achievement in this constituency with the party under Bertie’s leadership is there for all to see,” he said.