POLITICAL REACTION:FINE GAEL last night demanded an immediate general election following Taoiseach Brian Cowen's press conference.
“It is time to give people who have been denied a voice in the current economic crisis a say in their own future,’’ said a party spokesman. The spokesman said it was difficult for the the public to look on at the enactment of an internal party Fianna Fáil dispute at a time of such economic gravity.
“The competence of the Taoiseach is at question here,’’ he said. “We find ourselves in a situation where, weeks in advance of an election, Fianna Fáil is deciding internal party matters.’’
Fianna Fáil should sort out its leadership issues after the election and not in the shadow of a grave economic crisis, he said.
Labour’s national director of elections Ruairí Quinn TD accused Fianna Fáil of being preoccupied with issues regarding its own leadership at a time when the need had never been greater for a new government to give the country a new start and put people back to work.
“Mr Cowen’s announcement today means that the leadership issue will continue to be the sole focus of attention for Fianna Fáil Ministers and TDs, when everyone’s efforts and energies should be directed towards turning the country around,’’ he said.
Mr Quinn said people wanted to see not just a change in the Fianna Fáil leadership but a change of government with a new mandate.
“Today’s announcement reinforces the case for the Dáil to be given an early opportunity to consider the motion of no confidence in the Government tabled by the Labour Party on Friday,’’ Mr Quinn said.
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said the question of who led Fianna Fáil was a matter for that party, but the question who governed the State should be for citizens to decide.
“The obvious divisions within this Government, the failure of the leadership by the Taoiseach and Cabinet, and the bad decisions and policies being pushed through in the Finance Bill, have stripped this Government of any authority,’’ Mr Adams added.
In a statement issued after Mr Cowen’s press conference, the Green Party said its TDs and senators had “discussed Brian Cowens response to the internal Fianna Fail party consultations.
“The Green Party has stood back to allow Fianna Fail to order its own affairs. We look forward to an early and definitive resolution,” the statement said.
