FF LEADERSHIP:MINISTER FOR Finance Brian Lenihan indicated yesterday that were Taoiseach Brian Cowen to stand down, he would seek the leadership.
Speaking in Belfast in advance of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting in Dublin, Mr Lenihan said he was not party to any of the current speculation about the Taoiseach’s future.
When asked would he be interested in the Fianna Fáil leadership whenever Mr Cowen stood down, he replied: “I have always made it clear that a member of any political party is always interested in the leadership of the party.”
Mr Lenihan, in a brief press conference with his Northern counterpart, Sammy Wilson, at Stormont yesterday, was reluctant to be drawn on whether Mr Cowen would or should resign.
“Brian Cowen is the elected leader of the Fianna Fáil party. As one of his Ministers, naturally I have confidence in him,” he said.
Mr Lenihan said the issue of confidence was not before the party, although he acknowledged there was concern about the actual future of Fianna Fáil.
He added: “After the recent statements he made in the Dáil, I do want to make it clear he [Mr Cowen] didn’t in any way approach me about any banking matter.
“We are heading into a general election in the Republic. Deputies are anxious about the future direction of the party. There is a concern among the membership about the very survival of the party itself, so naturally there is a vigorous internal debate within the party.”
Mr Lenihan and Mr Wilson discussed the presentation of the Budget in the South and Mr Wilson’s draft budget for the North. Mr Wilson said he had sought assurances from Mr Lenihan that the Government’s actions to restructure the banking system would not have an adverse impact on the North’s economy.
