In the Eye of the Storm

Find out what Brian Cowen thinks is in store for Ireland in light of the global financial crisis and the government's unpopular decisions on medical cards and education cuts.

Jason O'Toole, 06 Nov 2008

Unfortunately for you, the economic bubble burst just as you took up office.

My reaction is this. Firstly – we have to manage the process of adjustment which has to take place in terms of what levels of public services can we afford. The second challenge is to develop – as we are in the process of doing – a credible economic recovery strategy. In other words, bringing order to public finances and identifying – even in these difficult circumstances – areas where we might be able to provide some more investment and some more jobs. The third strategic challenge is public service modernisation and reform – in line with social partnership commitments. The final challenge we have is the banking and financial crisis. We’ve just been discussing a few moments ago the controversy around the issue of medical cards. Less than a month ago, I sat in this office having to make a very big decision about how we would bring stability to our whole financial system in Ireland. If we didn’t make that decision it could’ve had the effect of knocking off 25% of GDP in a pretty short time. And the discussion we are having here would be academic because of the difficulties that would arise from that!

Political pundits are predicting Fianna Fail will perform badly in next year’s local elections. Are you concerned?

They said we’d take a hammering in the General Election, and we didn't. The bottom line is: We intend fighting the election with good candidates – people who are prominent and active in their community who’ll make good local public representatives and have the interest of the community at heart. We’ll contest that election with confidence on the basis of our record. I’d also make the point that there are many local authorities – the vast majority – we don’t have majorities on. We think higher levels of Fianna Fail representation would enable people to be provided with better services. We’ll contest the election on a positive platform rather than the negative approach that the Opposition seem to be committed to.

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