TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen warned Fianna Fáil councillors at the weekend to be prepared for "a relentless wave of attacks" in the run-up to next year's local elections.
"Our duty as representatives of the people and as members of this proud party is to deal with reality as it is, not how we might like it to be," Mr Cowen told his councillors at a special meeting in Tullamore.
"As we move towards an election year it is natural that people will become increasingly focused on the party's standing. But, just as we saw in the last general election, in Ireland polls can change faster than the weather.
"The best way forward is for us to focus on doing our job properly, even if that means making hard choices. Put simply, we must do what is right," he said.
Mr Cowen said they had all heard the spurious argument that Fianna Fáil blew the boom but the reality was that the Government had used the money generated by a successful economy to create more jobs, reduce taxes and build up the country's infrastructure.
Mr Cowen said Fianna Fáil had to act decisively in the best patriotic traditions of the party, no matter how difficult the decisions that would have to be made.
"As we deal with the impact of the sharp deterioration in public finances, we are demonstrating leadership. This is no time for soft options, quick fixes or political expediency. Now more than ever, we must do what is right."
He said that the Government was demonstrating leadership in the way it was responding to the impact of the sharp deterioration in public finances.
"This is no time for soft options, quick fixes or political expediency. Now more than ever, we must do what is right.
If we make the right choices, we can steer Ireland out of these rough waters. If we do what is right we can prepare Ireland to take up the opportunities that will be presented when this phase passes and achieve the prosperity our nation deserves and has come to expect," he said.
"So let's be clear because today has to be about straight talking - we will be entering into the local elections in far from ideal economic circumstances. Resources will be scarcer than they have been for a long time. How we deal with this situation will define the economic direction of our nation for many years to come. It is a challenge we must confront," the Taoiseach said.
Mr Cowen defended new arrangements for the selection of local election candidates, giving party headquarters rather than selection conventions the authority to choose candidates.
"I realise that some of you have concerns about some aspects of this process. However, as an organisation man, I say to you genuinely that we cannot approach next year's elections as we have done in the past.
"We cannot - and should not - approach the local elections, and its planning, in any less professional way than we would approach any other national elections.
"I know exactly how robust the political environment will be for us next year. Our candidates will face a relentless wave of attacks from people attacking every spending cut and promising a painless illusory alternative."
One of the councillors to express concerns at the new selection system was Arthur McDonald, from Carlow, vice-chairman of the councillors' forum.
"There is a lack of democracy in the local organisation due to the way the candidates have been selected," he said.
