Cowen defends China trip

A DEFIANT Brian Cowen last night defended his decision to continue with a Far Eastern visit as the medical card crisis raged on at home.

Speaking after meeting, Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, the Taoiseach said he was in Beijing to battle for Irish jobs. “What am I doing here? I’m out here working with a hundred companies and organisations and we are trying to get business so we can get more jobs at home — that’s my job. China is our seventh biggest trading partner today,” he said.

Ireland’s expertise in the financial and educational services fields are at the heart of the trade delegation to China being led by Mr Cowen. Pressed on the Cork Docklands initiative, the Taoiseach said people will have to wait and see what provisions are made in the Finance Bill shortly.