Brian Cowen tonight declared the past year was the toughest of his political life as he warned Ireland still faces a difficult road ahead.
In an informal Christmas briefing, the Taoiseach said the unprecedented events of 2009 had been extremely difficult for him on a personal level.
Offering a rare glimpse of the plain-speaking he is privately renowned for, the Fianna Fail leader also admitted he had some regrets since taking over from Bertie Ahern.
“For me personally, of course, it was the most difficult year that I faced in my political life — that’s for sure,” he said. “In terms of the scale of the problems, the magnitude of the challenges.”
But the Taoiseach added it was a tougher year for the tens of thousands who had lost their jobs as well as those on the receiving end of this month’s slash-and-burn Budget.
In a candid admission of the scale of the difficulties facing the country, he referred to “hot and heavy” exchanges around the Cabinet table at times as ministers tried to grapple with massive decisions.
But he rubbished speculation of a damaging split with Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan, saying that while his colleagues shared different opinions at times there was always a collective agreement.
“This wasn’t about politics this year, the country’s future was at stake,” he said.
“There were very serious issues, big decisions had to be taken by this Government in the last 12 to 15 months — big decisions. But hopefully, they’ll help us pull through.”
Adding that the effort wasn’t over, he said: “The really important thing at the end of this year is... there is a greater degree of certainty as to where we are going even if we have some road to travel yet.”
Mr Cowen said the priorities for the year ahead were to get the banking system back on track and investment in jobs.
He denied he was reluctant to see an inquiry into the banking crisis — against suggestions the former Minister for Finance might be one of the chief witnesses — and said such an investigation would have to be carefully considered.
But in a nod to the long-running tribunals, he also suggested they were good reasons not to give the go-ahead to a full-scale probe.
Accepting he was still on a learning curve as head of the country, Mr Cowen said: “Of course, one is learning, but when you come into this job you take responsibility from day one and that’s what I’m doing.”
During the 50 minute-long briefing, Mr Cowen said he had regrets from during the year but insisted they were no more than anyone else had in their working life.