Opposition wants poll as referendum on FF government

THE Opposition signalled their intention to make the forthcoming elections a referendum on the Government’s performance as the campaign heated up yesterday.

In the Dáil, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore criticised Brian Cowen’s performance ahead of his first anniversary as Taoiseach today.

They did likewise in separate press conferences to launch candidates, with Mr Gilmore claiming Mr Cowen was “fumbling in the dark trying to find the door” and that people would use polling day on June 5 to express their “very strong opinion” about the way Fianna Fáil had “mismanaged” the economy.

Asked if he was deliberately trying to single out Mr Cowen as the focus of attack for the campaign, Mr Gilmore said he was “not trying to blame individuals”, but then added: “He has to accept responsibility for his role as finance minister when he was asleep at the wheel while the economy was running into trouble.

“And the indecisive fumbling way in which the country’s affairs have been managed since he became Taoiseach has added to the decline in confidence.”

Back in the Dáil, Mr Kenny claimed Mr Cowen had gone from “hero to zero in 12 months”.

He questioned whether Mr Cowen would accept he no longer had a mandate, and call a general election if Fianna Fáil candidates were widely defeated in the local and European elections and two Dáil by-elections.

But Mr Cowen replied: “We are not electing a Government on June 5.

“Despite what [Mr Kenny] says, there are many people in the country who recognise that corrective measures must be taken and the Government has a responsibility to discharge, which they respect,” Mr Cowen added.

Mr Cowen’s government partner, Green Party leader John Gormley, said he couldn’t envisage a general election this year.

But he admitted that Fianna Fáil was struggling right now. “They’re not doing too well, I know that, and I think that’s a reality. And as much as I want the Government to continue, I have to concentrate on my game, and my game is to lead this party.”

Mr Gormley also sought to highlight the differences between the two parties as part of a deliberate election strategy, insisting: “People are making a distinction between the Green Party and Fianna Fáil.”

Fellow Green minister Eamon Ryan said the party would not tell supporters to give their second preferences to Fianna Fáil on polling day.

Instead, the party would recommend that supporters “make their own mind up”, Mr Ryan said told Newstalk radio station.