Measures a ‘downpayment on prosperous future’

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen delivered a bullish assessment of Ireland’s ability to power out of the economic downturn as he defended the Government’s emergency cuts drive.

He told TDs the measures were a “downpayment on a prosperous future” intended to get the country through a temporary difficulty.

Mr Cowen dismissed comparisons with the crippling recessions of the 1980s, insisting the core of the economy was much healthier than it had been. In response to opposition claims he had “blown the boom”, Mr Cowen defended his record.