FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny predicted his party would dominate Irish politics for the next decade.
“There is a vacuum in this country in terms of political leadership,” he said. “We are the party of the future. Just as Fianna Fáil dominated politics for the past decade, I feel our opportunity, in this crisis, is coming to dominate Irish politics for the next 10 years.”
He said it would be a difficult and tough time, but “it will be fair and caring”.
Addressing the Young Fine Gael conference in Athlone on Saturday, Mr Kenny said his party had the experience of seeing the underdog in Irish society, of hearing people’s stories and in highlighting their causes.
“When it comes our way, we will restore credibility to this country from an international market perspective. We will give our country a sense of pride and commitment.”
Addressing the confident and upbeat conference, Mr Kenny urged delegates to dedicate themselves for the next 14 weeks to the European and local elections.
“We will, once again, undertake what has been the traditional responsibility of the Fine Gael party: clean up the mess created by the Government.”
Mr Kenny said Fine Gael would table a private member’s motion in the Dáil this week to restore confidence in banking circles.
“If I were taoiseach in the morning I would remove the boards and senior personnel in both guaranteed banks and the regulatory authority.
“It is nothing personal. We need to send out a message to the international markets that this country is taking a different direction and is not afraid to make decisive decisions.”
Mr Kenny repeated Fine Gael’s demand for a new banking structure, whereby new banks could evolve from existing structures.
He said he had made this proposal in Europe, and was confident of receiving support from Germany and other countries.
“Ireland now finds itself with a lower credit rating than Greece. This is . . . potentially catastrophic if it is not arrested.”
