GOVERNMENT:TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen last night insisted that his Government would see out its five-year term and would not change its strategy.
Mr Cowen told reporters in Ennis, Co Clare, following an Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll showing Fianna Fáil's support had dropped five points to 17 per cent: "The opinion poll reflects the situation as it is, but from our point of view we have two years to complete our term."
He added: “We got a mandate to serve our term for five years, people want us to get things right and that is what we are intending to do.”
In the face of declining support, Mr Cowen said the Government had to make sure “we persevere with the strategy we are adopting because it is the best way of achieving recovery in our economy and getting growth, getting employment, getting jobs going again.
“We are glad to recognise that growth is coming back into the economy in the second half of this year and indeed some commentators are suggesting that the corner has been turned as we speak.”
He said it was important to communicate the necessity of the policies that had been undertaken in the current conditions. “We have been making the right decisions by the country. As difficult as they are, we are absolutely determined to put the nation’s interest first.
“I recognise the difficulties that it causes, the impacts it has had. People’s standard of living has been lowered, but at the end of the day, we must do the right thing by the country and that is our duty for so long as we have the privilege to hold this position.”
Mr Cowen said the Government’s policies were “receiving support internationally and I think in a growing way, people are realising at home that these are necessary decisions”.
Asked to respond to the call by Fianna Fáil TD Noel O’Flynn for a party appraisal of his leadership, Mr Cowen said: “We’re a democratic party, but we had a discussion on this some weeks ago.”
“Next week, there is a confidence motion and we will put our confidence [motion] down, debate it and, I believe, win it. Our support has been down for some time and we have to continue to work as an organisation, continue to communicate with our people. I think everyone has recognised that this country has come through a very difficult juncture. There is still a lot more work to be done.”
