Taoiseach Brian Cowen today denied doing a U-turn on talks with the Opposition by writing to Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore to invite them to a meeting to discuss the Government's budgetary plan.
Mr Kenny agreed last night to meet Mr Cowen to discuss the proposal, while Mr Gilmore said today he would attend. However, he warned he would not be signing up to any "phoney consensus".
In a marked change of tone yesterday, Mr Cowen endorsed the Green Party proposal for a meeting of leaders to establish if there is a basis for political consensus on the four-year plan, which has to be finalised with the European Commission next month.
The overture represents a change of sentiment by Mr Cowen, who was muted in his support for the initiative in the Dáil on Tuesday.
Rejecting suggestions today that his new approach came after pressure from the Greens, Mr Cowen said he has always been open to talks with other parties.
“I noted in some media coverage that I was not prepared to do this. That has never been my position. I have stated it clearly, and you’ll see from the transcripts of my interviews that that has been my consistent approach,” he said. “I’ve simply stated that we need to take this step-by-step.”
Mr Gilmore this afternoon dampened expectation of an agreement.
"I don't think anybody should expect there is going to be a budget with consensus this year," he told RTÉ Radio.
"The Taoiseach is talking about a four year plan. [This is] not credible unless you have a Government with a mandate to see it through," he said. "I'm not going to engage in some sort of marriage counselling between the Taoiseach and one of his ministers."
Mr Kenny said yesterday he was pleased the Taoiseach had decided to meet the Opposition leaders. "I welcome it and will be responding positively to Mr Cowen's letter," he said.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams today criticised the Taoiseach's decision to exclude his party from the talks.
Speaking this evening from Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick, where he opened a new Sinn Féin office, Mr Adams said discussions about savings can best be achieved "should include those who take a different view to that of the Government".
In his letters to Mr Kenny and Mr Gilmore, the Taoiseach said that following exchanges with them in the Dáil on Tuesday he wanted to reiterate his position on the desirability of having constructive engagement with the Opposition parties.
In his letters, the Taoiseach said he greatly welcomed the fact that the main Opposition parties accepted the Government target of achieving a fiscal deficit of below 3 per cent by the end of 2014. “This is absolutely essential not only to achieve stability, but to enable us to convince lenders and investors that our funding needs now, and over the four years ahead, can be met with confidence,” he said.
“While the Government has the constitutional responsibility to propose the fiscal strategy and the budgetary measures that are necessary, it does not have a monopoly on wisdom. We are at a point where every sensible and viable proposal needs to be heard and considered,” added the Taoiseach.
Mr Cowen said it was in that spirit he had proposed that the Opposition parties should be afforded comprehensive access to information, analysis and costing by the officials of the Department of Finance.
He told Mr Kenny and Mr Gilmore that he very much welcomed the fact that their parties had taken up that offer and that these briefings would take place shortly. “The people of this country are mature and responsible. They expect our political system to reflect that seriousness of purpose . . . Therefore, notwithstanding the major political differences between us, I believe the pursuit of the national interest and the common good must have priority.