FORMER MINISTER of state John McGuinness has said Taoiseach Brian Cowen needs to come out of “his comfort zone” and engage directly with the Irish people in confronting the economic crisis.
Speaking to The Irish Timesa day after his demotion was made public, Mr McGuinness, who was one of seven junior ministers dropped by Mr Cowen on Wednesday said Mr Cowen needed to adapt his style of leadership. "I think he has to come out of the old tribal mode that is Fianna Fáil. He has to reach out beyond that and listen to his parliamentary party once more and giving action to the voice of the issues that they raise. That entails coming out of a comfort zone."
Mr McGuinness was a junior minister at the Department of Enterprise with responsibility for trade and commerce. However, there were tensions between himself and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan and both clashed on aspects of enterprise and trade policy. Mr McGuinness also made critical comments about the public service and of his own Government’s budget.
Mr McGuinness said that Mr Cowen was a personable and nice guy but said that his ability was not being utilised as much as it should. “I think that people are asking more of him. I think the parliamentary party in general would be asking more of him,” he said.
He said the country needed a “new dynamic leadership” that was not afraid of challenging the status quo, or not afraid of new opinion, and that was willing to challenge itself each day.
Government Chief Whip Pat Carey confirmed last night that Mr McGuinness was absent without notice for the two Dáil votes yesterday, one of which related to the removal of the Christmas bonus for social welfare recipients. A spokesman said that Mr Carey would speak to Mr McGuinness about his absence next week.