INDEPENDENT KERRY South TD Jackie Healy-Rae has strongly backed Brian Cowen’s leadership of Fianna Fáil.
“I believe he will lead Fianna Fáil into the next general election,’’ he said.
Mr Healy-Rae has an arrangement to support the Government in return for constituency projects.
He said yesterday that Mr Cowen was “doing his very best, and maybe better than many other fellows would do it’’.
Mr Cowen, he said, had run into the most difficult economic times in the State’s history.
“Brian Lenihan and himself are doing a good job, and I do not believe that anybody else would do better than them.’’
He criticised the Fianna Fáil backbenchers who were complaining about Mr Cowen’s leadership.
“All I will say to the lads who are bickering is that same crowd have been bickering all their lives.’’
He said he found Mr Cowen very good to deal with.
“He has been very accessible at all times,’’ said Mr Healy-Rae.
“I have been able to approach him at any time that I want to.’’
Mr Healy-Rae left Fianna Fáil in 1997 after he failed to secure a party nomination to contest the Kerry South constituency.
He was elected as an Independent and has held his seat since.
He had spent decades in Fianna Fáil as a councillor and grassroots activist.
He has supported Fianna Fáil- led governments since his election to the Dáil until last week when he voted against the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill banning stag hunting.