TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen has pledged to stay in his job, saying his focus would be on providing the leadership the Government and country needs.
In a show of unity with Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan, he gave a press conference on the steps of Government Buildings in Dublin hours after former chief whip Tom Kitt called for a debate on his leadership at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.
“I am not a Taoiseach on probation. I am the elected leader of our party. I have the full support of my Government colleagues. We have a job of work to do. Serious challenges [are] facing our country and everyone in our party and the membership around the country wants us to get on with that,” said Mr Cowen, in response to questions about Mr Kitt’s challenge.
He was emphatic that he has no intention of resigning and he pointed to the full support he had received from his Cabinet colleagues.
"I am grateful for that. We have a job of work to do. The people out there in the country want to see the Government get on with its work," said Mr Cowen. He said there was a formal process in place if anybody wanted to raise the issue of his leadership at the parliamentary party but he was emphatic that the matter of his Morning Irelandinterview had been deal with.
He added that there were big challenges facing the country, and the Government had taken decisions with determination and with unity of purpose.
The Taoiseach pointed to the Government’s secure position in the Dáil. “We have good colleagues in Government, we have Independent support and we have a working majority in the Dáil. So let’s get on with that,” said Mr Cowen.
Earlier in the day Independent TD Michael Lowry said he would not be prepared to vote for any replacement for Mr Cowen that Fianna Fáil might put forward for the Taoiseach’s office. He said Kerry South TD Jackie Healy Rae, who has also supported the Fianna Fáil-Green Coalition since the summer of 2007, took the same attitude.
The Taoiseach said discussions in Government were not about elections but the best way forward for the country.
“Ireland will and must demonstrate to the wider world not only that we are open for business but that we are on the way to securing our economic recovery on a sustainable basis,” he added.
Mr Cowen said he said he would be working with the Minister for Finance on behalf of the people to get the country through challenging times.
Mr Lenihan expressed his full support for Mr Cowen and said problems for Ireland on the international bond markets had nothing to do with political instability in Fianna Fáil, saying the markets were not influenced by minor political disputes that had no bearing on economic decision-making.
Earlier, former junior minister Tom Kitt called for a special parliamentary party meeting to discuss Mr Cowen’s leadership, saying the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party needed to meet to consider the ongoing controversy.
Later Dublin North Fianna Fáil TD Michael Kennedy supported Mr Kitt’s call for a meeting. Mr Kennedy said the Taoiseach must outline his communication strategy to the party and the wider public and be clear abut how he plans to implement Government policy.
However, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said he did not believe there should be a parliamentary party meeting.
Mr Ahern said he had not heard any calls from backbenchers to have such a meeting, adding that Mr Cowen was determined to continue in office and had his full support.
Minister for Enterprise Batt O’Keeffe also gave Mr Cowen his full backing, but conceded the controversy over the Taoiseach’s leadership was continuing and that the party needed to be reassured.
Government Chief Whip John Curran described the call for a parliamentary party meeting as a distraction from the real issues.