Cowen vows to remain Taoiseach even if FF support collapses

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has insisted he will continue in office even if the public delivers a damning verdict on his leadership in next week’s elections.

The latest opinion poll shows Fianna Fáil on just 20% of the vote, in third place behind Fine Gael and Labour. If that figure does not increase by polling day next Friday, the party would suffer greatly in the local and European elections and two Dáil by-elections. But the Government would remain unaffected, as there is no general election, and Mr Cowen insisted he would stay put even if a devastating outcome suggested the public had lost faith in him.

“I won’t consider my position,” Mr Cowen said yesterday. “I’m in the business of leading a government through the most difficult times we’ve seen in many decades, and we’re determined to do what’s necessary for the country.”