Standing ovation for Cowen

Taoiseach Brian Cowen got a standing ovation last night after a “rousing” oration to his parliamentary party in which he defended…

Taoiseach Brian Cowen got a standing ovation last night after a “rousing” oration to his parliamentary party in which he defended his leadership of Fianna Fáil and laid down the law to dissident TDs.

Mr Cowen opened the meeting with a 15-minute speech and spoke again at the end.

He told his TDs and Senators they knew the procedures for changing their leader if that was what they wanted to do.

He added, however, that his leadership was not “probationary” and he intended to lead Fianna Fáil into the next general election, Government Chief Whip John Curran confirmed.

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“Taoiseach gave a rousing speech. Hard for anyone to follow that,” was the text sent by one Fianna Fáil TD after Mr Cowen’s opening address.

Another, who didn’t wish to be named, said afterwards that the Taoiseach had given an excellent speech and had put the issue of his leadership to bed once and for all.

There were only five other speakers at the meeting. Two were his long-time critics John McGuinness and Noel O’Flynn, who focused on his failure to communicate effectively.

The other speeches in support of the Taoiseach were made by Carlow Kilkenny TD Bobby Aylward, Thomas Byrne of Meath East and Beverley Flynn of Mayo.

“He put it up to the parliamentary party. They either support him or they do not; there can be no rolling debate or conditional support for him.

“The Taoiseach said he wanted to put the issue of his leadership to bed and he wanted to be very clear about that,” added the TD.

Another issue dealt with by Mr Cowen was the future of the Lemass Forum, an independent entity established by a number of TDs which has held debates and discussions with invited guest speakers in Leinster House.

Mr Cowen said he never had any difficulty with the forum but he wanted it to come within the parliamentary party. That would strengthen the party and strengthen the forum, he said.

Mr O’Flynn of Cork North-Central said later that the Taoiseach had made it quite clear he was the leader, and he didn’t want to be coming back every two months about his leadership.

“I said, you promised you would improve in your communications before Easter. You did. But you still have to up your game. The people are not happy and I’ll tell you what they’re saying: you have failed to communicate the message and the decisions that have been taken,” said Mr O’Flynn.

“I said I’m standing up and I’m saying what I have to say and I’m saying it here. But there are other members in this room who won’t stand up but will say plenty of things about you.” Mr O’Flynn added that his contribution was met with “stony silence” by the meeting.