TAOISEACH'S REACTION:TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen made light of an attack on his leadership by Fianna Fáil backbench TD John McGuinness, dismissing as a "personal opinion" the unsparing views expressed by the former minister of state.
“I obviously refute and reject the contentions he makes,” Mr Cowen told reporters as he arrived for an EU summit. He added that he did not take the attack from Mr McGuinness personally.
“Obviously, as he says himself he’s expressing a personal opinion. My focus at the moment is on continuing to lead the country and the Government with the very serious challenges we continue to face,” he said.
“We’re discussing this week, the Minister for Finance and the Government are preparing a statement on the banking sector. That’s a huge issue for the country in the weeks and months ahead. That’s what I’m concentrating on.
“If Mr McGuinness wants to make a personal comment about that, that’s his business.”
Asked if he enjoyed overwhelming support within Fianna Fáil following his reshuffle, the Taoiseach said that the “vast, vast majority” of people in Fianna Fáil were team players who understood the context in which this Government was operating.
“There’s been strong solidarity and support for the policies we’ve been implementing,” he said.
“Obviously it’s a time of challenge for the country and in the midst of implementing these necessary policies I think the Government has shown uniquely and the parliament the capacity to have a coherent set of policies with our colleagues in Government that is being implemented and that is bringing, as I say, the financial and economic challenges around.”
On criticism of the reshuffle, he said there were always more eligible candidates than available positions.
“In a party as big as Fianna Fáil, there are talented people at the disposal of the Taoiseach at any time. That always is the case.
“And my job is to – and the job of all of us in whatever capacity we have in the party, in the parliamentary party – is to continue with the disciplined and united approach that helps us display to the public that we as part of this Government have the political capacity to meet the challenges that we face.”
He continued: “I’ve always been of the view: this is the time for the country for stability and continuing with an approach which is only in the midst of being implemented.
“As I say we have a hugely important further policy initiative in the banking sector which is fundamental to the economic future of the country as well. So that’s my focus.”
The Taoiseach said the Government has shown a “great degree of solidarity and determination” to overcome unprecedented challenges.
“What I’m primarily concerned with is a stable Government that implements the policies that are necessary and a united and disciplined parliamentary party to give the necessary parliamentary approvals for the decisions and initiatives we have to take. As I say the vast, vast majority of the party are in that mode because that’s what the country needs.”