Party will not lose seats over cutbacks, claims Cowen

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen is not concerned that his party will lose seats in the local and European elections next summer because of cutbacks in government spending.

The Fianna Fáil leader believes the public understand that difficult decisions have to be made and said his party is hoping to win back some of the seats lost in the last local election in 2004.

“The local elections next year will be contested against whatever the backdrop is, we won’t be unique in that set of circumstances,” the Taoiseach said yesterday.