Cowen complacent about economy, says Kenny

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny accused Brian Cowen and his Government of “a dangerously complacent attitude” to the economy.

The philosophy, he said, was to “stay the course, wait for the storm to pass, and we’ll be alright”.

He added: “I have promised the new Taoiseach the wholehearted support of Fine Gael for innovation, initiative and empathy with the Irish people, and I will deliver that support. But I cannot, and will not, allow the good feelings on the Government benches to distract from the reality. The reality is that, out of the best times of any Irish Government was ever handed, Fianna Fáil has created catastrophe and chaos.”

Mr Kenny said that under Mr Cowen’s stewardship in the Department of Finance, the Government had mismanaged the public finances, the housing sector and did nothing about economic and public-sector reform.

“We know that because, just two weeks ago in this House, when I raised one of the many human tragedies within our health services, the then tánaiste Cowen described it as ‘simplistic and facile’. The implication is inescapable: he has to deal with more complex and difficult issues.”

Mr Kenny was speaking during the debate on the Cabinet nominations, which were approved by the Dáil in a division.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said that there would be no honeymoon for the Government because it was not a new Government.

Mr Cowen had presented to the Dáil “a recycled single-party Fianna Fáil Government”.

He added that “the captain’s armband had been changed, there were a few substitutions, and some position switches, but this is essentially the same Government that has been in office for the last 11 years”.

Mr Gilmore said it saddened him to see how much the Green Party had sacrificed to obtain office. He said that the Greens were now suffering from a political “Stockholm syndrome”, whereby captives in a hostage situation began to identify with their captors out of fear.

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said he deplored the proposal to retain Mary Harney in the Department of Health because it was a signal of a continuation of disastrous policies. He said Fianna Fáil had been riding high as health cuts, education shortfalls, job losses and the overall economic slump were swept from the headlines.

“The new Taoiseach may bask again in the media spotlight today, but next week and next month will present a very different reality.”