Taoiseach Brian Cowen today expressed regret over the economic downturn and said he took full responsibility for his performance in all his ministries.
However, he stopped short of admitting any responsibility for the downturn.
Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan apologised yesterday for any role that he or the Government had in the lead up to the recession. "I apologise to the extent to which the Government played a part in this. But I don't accept that the Government was the only party responsible," he said.
When asked during a visit to Cork today, if he too would similarly apologise, Mr Cowen shied away from admitting any role in the downturn.
"I take full responsibility for my time and every ministerial role I had. The Government were pursuing policies in a different time and what we have to do now, and what we have always been doing, is that now that this downturn came - the biggest recession in 40 or 50 years - we are taking the steps that are necessary to get Ireland back in the game - to get Ireland up and running again."
Asked specifically if he would apologise, Mr Cowen replied: "I have often said it - I have said it on many occasions. I am sorry that people lost jobs, I am sorry that people have lost the standard of living that they had two or three years ago.
"What they expect from their Government is to come up with the decisions that will see them get the thing back on the road - get the show back on the road.
"We have made this point clear - there are a whole range of factors why we are where we are. The Government obviously pursued a policy position at the time in totally different circumstances.
"I think it is important to point out that, if you look at the time, there was independent regulation (of the banks) and that was all the vogue. Everybody was supporting that and clearly it didn't serve us well. We now have a situation where we have to fix that system and we are in the process of doing that."
"It is all about, of course, being accountable for decisions that we took on the best advice available at the time - you know, at the end of the day what people want now is where is Ireland going and is this Government displaying the capacity to rectify the problems that are there - and it is."
"I have said it three times - I have regrets every day. Looking back, to see where the country has found itself. We are not unique and immune from the trends that have happened elsewhere. But my job as Taoiseach is get on with making sure we have a Government that has the capacity to rectify the problems and that is what we are doing."
