Kenny critical of Cowen's 100-day performance

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny today accused Taoiseach Brian Cowen of leading Ireland into a recession and claimed that his first 100 days in power had been a failure.

Speaking this morning, Mr Kenny criticised the Taoiseach for his handling of the Lisbon Treaty referendum and accused him of seeming to have little idea as to how to solve the economic crisis.

“In just 100 days we have seen a loss of confidence in the economy, the failure of the Lisbon Treaty referendum, a dramatic fall in employment and investment in the construction industry, the collapse of the national pay talks, and crude attempts by the Government to cloud its failures by raiding the National Pension Reserve Fund and by attempting to re-introduce third-level fees," said Mr Kenny.

Mr Kenny's comments came after Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern defended the Taoiseach's tenure in office.

Mr Ahern today said that "substantial progress" had been made across a wide range of areas by Government during the first 100 days of Mr Cowen's Government. The Minister also claimed that the Taoiseach's response to the deterioration in the economy had been decisive and that the new government had "many solid achievements" to its credit.

In a scathing attack, Mr Kenny warned that unless Mr Cowen "gets a grip on both himself and the economy" untold damage will be done to the country.

“Brian Cowen has led Ireland into a recession and presided over the worst deterioration in the public finances in the history of the State. From a general Government surplus of 2.9 per cent of GDP in 2006, the country is now facing the prospect of a deficit of over 3 per cent later this year – a deterioration of over €10 billion in just two years. This is unprecedented in any EU country in recent decades, and is Brian Cowen’s most enduring legacy as Minister for Finance," he said.

“The package of cuts cobbled together with Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan has been exposed as a sham, and the Government is resorting to the bad old habits of borrowing from future generations to pay for its current excesses and waste. Meanwhile, Government-backed cuts and stealth taxes are being dripped out over the summer, most recently the proposed third level college fees, and a freeze on frontline policing for the gardaí."

Mr Kenny said that Mr Cowen's failure to campaign effectively on Lisbon in the long period between Bertie Ahern’s announcement of his resignation and his formal election as Taoiseach allowed a political vacuum to open up, which “had been filled by false information and scare-mongering.”

“The Lisbon Treaty referendum was Brian Cowen’s declared first priority. His failure to lead a strong, coherent and effective ‘Yes’ campaign led to a result which has left reform of the European Union in crisis and created the potential for Ireland to be isolated from the heart of European decision-making," said Mr Kenny.

“His admission that he had not read the Treaty text and his refusal to engage in meaningful co-operation with the main Opposition parties were serious errors that severely damaged the ‘Yes’ campaign. Now, more than two months on from the referendum, the Government appears to have no clear plan to protect Ireland’s future place in Europe."

Mr Kenny warned that it was critical that the Taoiseach take decisive action to reform the delivery of public services so that the people who are most dependent on such services do not end up suffering.

"If his first 100 days are the yardstick, I have very little confidence that these challenges will be addressed,” said Mr Kenny.

Mr Cowen also came in for criticism from the Labour Party, which described the past 100 days as "the most undistinguished intial period of office of any Taoiseach in the history of the State."

"Brian Cowen took office on May 7th with the political and public goodwill to which any new Taoiseach is entitled. So far he has spectacularly failed to live up to public expectations," said the party's spokeswoman on the Environment Joanna Tuffy this afternoon.