Fianna Fáil press conference:Opposition leaders Enda Kenny and Pat Rabbitte would "say and do anything" to get into government, Minister for Finance Brian Cowen said yesterday. Calling for a debate on "the bread and butter issues", he accused Fine Gael and Labour of failing to even mention jobs and the economy on the opening day of the election campaign.
Speaking at a news conference in his party's election headquarters in downtown Dublin, Mr Cowen gave notice that Fianna Fáil would be challenging Fine Gael and Labour on the detail and credibility of their economic proposals in the course of the campaign.
"We accept the tough scrutiny that comes from being in government," he said. But he claimed that, in contrast, the plans of Fine Gael and Labour "haven't even begun to be scrutinised".
Mr Cowen said: "There has been a transformation in Ireland in the last 10 years."
People should not just change the government for change's sake. "If the car is going well, you don't change to a Lada," he said, describing the choice being offered to the electorate as he saw it.
Stressing Fianna Fáil's intention to subject Fine Gael and Labour to close scrutiny, the Minister quoted a remark made by former Australian prime minister Paul Keating, who told the opposition, "We intend to burn you slowly on this barbie (ie, barbecue)."
Mr Cowen said: "Pat Rabbitte and Enda Kenny have been around a long time and this is their last chance of getting into government, and they'll say and do anything to get into it. That's the bottom line."
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin said that, "the Labour Party, in essence, support European tax harmonisation."
Fianna Fáil in government would veto any attempt at EU level to increase Ireland's 12.5 per cent corporate tax rate, a key factor in attracting foreign investment and creating jobs.
"It's a very fundamental question facing people working in industries such as pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, financial services, medical device companies," he said.
Mr Cowen claimed Labour's representative in the European Parliament, Proinsias De Rossa MEP, had been "undermining our national position on this", a claim Mr De Rossa has strongly denied.
On personal taxation, Mr Cowen said Green Party chairman John Gormley had declared his party's opposition to a cut in the standard rate from 20 to 18 per cent as proposed by Labour and Fine Gael. "So I wonder where that leaves the tax policy of a putative government involving Fine Gael, Labour and the Greens."
Claiming Sinn Féin was in favour of higher corporation tax rates, he said that party's economic policies were "simply not compatible" with those of Fianna Fáil.
"We will not be involved in any discussions with them in regard to the formation of a government after this election because of this," he said.
Sinn Féin's economic positions were "hard left" in many cases. Commenting afterwards, Sinn Féin chairwoman Mary Lou McDonald MEP said: "Our manifesto does not call for an increase in corporation tax."
Mr Martin was reminded that five years earlier, in the same room where yesterday's news conference was held, he had promised as health minister to end hospital waiting lists within two years, but this had not been achieved.
"We have made huge progress in relation to the waiting lists," he said.
When it was pointed out that Tánaiste Michael McDowell said at the weekend that, compared to Mary Harney, no other health minister in recent years came even "knee-high", Mr Martin responded: "He is occasionally given to a bit of hyperbole, so I'll allow him some licence on that."
On stamp duty, Mr Cowen said his party's manifesto, due to be launched on Thursday, would "outline in detail the clear position the Fianna Fáil party have on this matter".
Asked for his views about the adjournment of the Mahon tribunal, Mr Cowen said, "The tribunal is independent." He added: "We're here to discuss jobs and the economy."
