TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen last night accused the two main Opposition parties of opportunism and populism in their approach to the economic crisis.
Mr Cowen said Fine Gael and Labour were diametrically opposed in the solutions they proposed to deal with the sharp decline in the public finances. He claimed that neither approach stood up to scrutiny.
He also urged voters to elect MEPs in the European elections who were “unequivocally” pro-Europe. This was seen as a reference to the anti-Lisbon Treaty group Libertas, which is fielding two candidates, including founder Declan Ganley, in the June elections for the European Parliament.
Speaking at the launch of the Fianna Fáil local election campaign in his his home county of Offaly, Mr Cowen told delegates that Fine Gael was not prepared to say openly what its options would be.
Repeating his criticism of party leader Enda Kenny’s ardfheis speech earlier this month, Mr Cowen said Fine Gael was codding the people by claiming it would return finances to stability by 2012 without increases in income tax rates.
He said Labour wanted the State to borrow its way out of the problem and its solution was more investment, rather than cutbacks.
Labour was trying to “convince international markets that we have a sustainable economic position by increasing expenditure,” he said.
He claimed both parties were “taking the populist line every time” but refused to be specific when it came to spelling out their solution detail.
Mr Cowen also told delegates that the importance of Ireland’s membership of the European Union could not be over-emphasised. He urged the electorate to “support candidates that are unequivocally in favour of the project that is the EU”.
“Fianna Fail stands squarely for full participation in the EU,” he said.
Mr Cowen said he accepted that the Budget would create hardships but emphasised that the local elections would be fought on local issues.
He also said that yesterday’s announcement by the ESB of the creation of 3,500 jobs in green technology served as a pointer for growth in the economy.
He said he expected the economy to begin recovery in 2011 but added that the post-recession Ireland would be very different and that Ireland would have to identify new opportunities.
Some 27 candidates will represent Fianna Fáil in the local elections in Offaly, including the Taoiseach’s younger brother, Cllr Barry Cowen.
Three former members of the party in the area have left and will run as independents in a row over the selection process.
Going into the meeting, Mr Cowen defended the party’s selection system, which has a strong national input, saying it had brought forward many new candidates.
Asked about the possible legal action in relation to an apartment complex in Leeds in which Mr Cowen is an investor, he said it was being dealt with by his solicitors and was a private matter. “Hopefully we will get an outcome that will be satisfactory to everybody,” he said.