'Game is up', says Noonan as Coveney defends stance

OPPOSITION REACTION:FINE GAEL TD Simon Coveney was unrepentant last night about his criticism of Taoiseach Brian Cowen's performance in a radio interview yesterday morning.

The Cork South Central deputy used his account on social networking website Twitter to comment on Mr Cowen's performance in the interview on RTÉ's Morning Irelandprogramme.

Shortly after the interview was broadcast, Mr Coveney tweeted: “God, what an uninspiring interview by Taoiseach this morning. He sounded halfway between drunk and hungover and totally disinterested...”

Mr Coveney later rebutted Mr Cowen’s description of his criticism as “a new low in Irish politics” with another message on the microblogging site.

“Seems like offering an honest comment on Taoiseach’s interview is now being described as a new low in politics,” said Mr Coveney.

Labour Party TD Róisín Shortall described as "inept and unconvincing" Mr Cowen's answers to questions from Cathal MacCoille on RTÉ Radio One's Morning Irelandprogramme.

Ms Shortall also said Mr Cowen had been “semi-coherent”. The country was “crying out for leadership” and some level of optimism about the future, but Mr Cowen had “offered no hope or no vision”.

"The interview given by the Taoiseach on Morning Irelandmust rank as one of the most inept and unconvincing ever given by a Taoiseach in the history of the State.

“Such a performance by a Taoiseach at any time would be a matter of concern, but at a time when the country is facing such huge economic problems, it must set serious alarm bells ringing.”

Ms Shortall insisted only a general election and the selection of a new government by voters could “rescue the country from the morass into which Fianna Fáil has led it”.

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the state of the country’s finances was more important than Mr Cowen’s performance in a radio interview.

“He defended his Government’s plan to cut at least €3 billion in the forthcoming budget, devastating health and education and other public services.”

Fine Gael’s finance spokesman Michael Noonan claimed Mr Cowen had no clear answers to the questions posed, and claimed to have been struck by an uncertainty in Mr Cowen’s approach.

He said there were concerns over the leadership of the country, adding: “This can’t continue, the game is up”.

However, Fine Gael backbencher Lucinda Creighton used her Twitter account to complain that the controversy was distracting people from the state of the economy. “The country on its knees and we’re talking about the entertainment at an FF think-in. Good God,” she tweeted.