TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen has said that he will not decide his position on the basis of opinion poll findings.
Mr Cowen was responding to questions about the latest Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll which found that a substantial majority of voters would like to see him stepping down from his post before the next general election.
Speaking to reporters outside Government Buildings, Mr Cowen said the poll – which found that 61 per cent said he should step down, while 29 per cent said he should remain – would make for a “nice conversation” but it was not very relevant to the work of Government.
“I don’t think there are many incumbents in government in Europe today that have majority support in opinion polls.
“We have a job to do. It’s not about interpreting opinion polls. It’s about coming forward with the economic policies to meet the realities of the day.
“In a parliamentary democracy people have an opportunity to make their decision whenever an election comes,” he said.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has said he is “most certainly not” considering his position as party leader in the aftermath of his party’s poor showing in the poll.
Mr Kenny commented yesterday for the first time about the poll, published on Thursday, which recorded a 3 per cent drop in Fine Gael support to 24 per cent. “I do intend to be the next taoiseach,” he said. Asked if any party members had come to him urging him to step down as leader, Mr Kenny replied: “Certainly not.”
Mr Kenny said he was “not fixated about any polls”.
The poll showed Fianna Fáil drawing level with the largest Opposition party for the first time in almost two years.