Noel O’Flynn calls for Cowen to resign and warns he won’t back pension cut

BRIAN Cowen “misled” the public over the EU-IMF bailout and should resign as soon as the budget is delivered, Fianna Fáil TD Noel O’Flynn has said.

In addition to the stinging attack, Mr O’Flynn has taken the extraordinary step of issuing a letter to Mr Cowen warning he won’t support the budget if it cuts the old-age pension.

The Cork North Central TD said he felt “betrayed and humiliated” to see the Government deny a bailout was in prospect only for the EU and IMF to arrive in Dublin last week.

“I’m disgusted at the way the people of this country were misled.

“The parliamentary party is disgusted, I’ve no doubt, and the Fianna Fáil party members and supporters are disgusted,” Mr O’Flynn said.

“It’s time for the Taoiseach to stand aside. It hasn’t worked – he hasn’t worked. His style of leadership hasn’t worked, and I don’t believe it’s going to change.”

Mr O’Flynn says he believes Mr Cowen should stay in place until the budget is delivered but not a moment longer.

Mr O’Flynn says he is prepared to support the budget and will vote for it “in the interests of the country” – provided it doesn’t cut the pension.

Fears of a backbench revolt are understood to have persuaded the Government not to target the pension but, crucially, the coalition has not given any assurances to its own TDs on the issue.

Mr O’Flynn had previously issued a vocal warning to the Government that he would pull his support if the pension was cut. But the letter to the Taoiseach is a significant escalation of the threat and leaves no room for compromise. Mr O’Flynn has included details of the letter in 15,000 leaflets which he is distributing to constituents this week.

The letter, sent to Mr Cowen last Monday and copied to Government chief whip John Curran, states: “I am writing to inform you that should the Government decide to cut either the contributory or non-contributory old age pension in this year’s budget, I will have no option but to resign the party whip and vote against the measure on December 7.”

Mr O’Flynn has not yet received a response to his letter. Fianna Fáil refused to comment.