THE QUESTION of a national government is irrelevant but an all-party consensus on the four-year budget framework to be announced next month would be a welcome development, Taoiseach Brian Cowen said yesterday.
Speaking to reporters at the opening of updated waste-treatment facilities in Portlaoise, the Taoiseach pointed out that, on his initiative, the Department of Finance was briefing the Opposition on the economic situation.
Asked to respond to Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment John Gormley’s proposal for an all-party economic forum, Mr Cowen said if it were possible to obtain a political consensus, that would be “most welcome”.
“Last weekend I stated that the Department of Finance facilities would be available to the Opposition at this time. Preparing a four-year plan for the European Commission, that’s important work, and it’s important that the Opposition get a chance, both in terms of briefing and analysis from the Department of Finance and any costings that they may wish to look at.”
He had himself been involved in discussions with Mr Gormley since the decision on the four-year framework plan was announced: “As you know there is a strong position in the Green Party to try and build a consensus around that sort of issue.”
The Opposition would be facilitated in any way possible: “If as a result of the briefing and analysis and costings that are done, we can have meetings on that and see in what way any of it might be incorporated, certainly we’d look at that constructively.” But he stressed that the plan would have to set out “a credible pathway” towards achieving the 3 per cent deficit target. He acknowledged the acceptance of the target by the main Opposition parties.
He would be “only too happy” to facilitate any “constructive” proposals from the Opposition.
“And in relation to the prospect of any meetings that might derive from that at leadership level, again, no problem in principle with that on the basis that we’re talking about having a constructive discussion,” Mr Cowen said.
When it was put to him that this was very different from Mr Gormley’s proposal for a forum of party leaders and finance spokespersons, the Taoiseach said: “clearly if it was possible to obtain a political consensus based on the work that is ongoing, of course that would be welcome. But you are aware of the stated positions of the Opposition on some of these matters. If any proposals emerge from the Opposition that would be subsequently helped by meeting at finance spokesman and leadership level, I don’t have a problem with that. But what I’m saying is, we must take this matter step by step.”
Asked about Mr Gormley’s suggestion of a possible national government, Mr Cowen said: “I don’t see it as being relevant to our present situation, we have a job to do in the coming weeks, we need to get on with that job and the last thing we need to be doing is, in my opinion, creating any further degree of political uncertainty about that.”
