Cowen denies PR disaster over union talks collapse

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has denied the collapse of talks with the public sector represented a PR disaster for the Government and said he would make no apology for engaging in negotiations.

Speaking at a press conference at Government Buildings, Mr Cowen said it had been “right and responsible” for the state as an employer of 315,000 people to enter discussions and “go the extra mile” to see if agreement could be reached.

“I make no apology whatever to anyone for trying to find an agreed way forward. This country has serious problems to confront, and we have to try and work together by agreement where we can. And the fact that we don’t succeed on every occasion is not in any way to invalidate both the legitimacy and the necessity of such a process,” he said.