Taoiseach looks to centenary of Rising and calls for short-term sacrifice

REBUILDING the economy will be a medium rather than a short-term task and there will be further casualties along the way, Taoiseach Brian Cowen has indicated.

Speaking at a Dublin Chamber of Commerce function in Dublin last night, Mr Cowen said the question was not whether the recession would end, but whether the country would be ready to capitalise on the recovery when it came.

“We’re going to come through it. Recessions end,” he said. “The question is are we going to be in the best position we can possibly be to pick up, or are we going to prolong recession and defer opportunity because we weren’t prepared to defer decisions... we know in our heart of hearts we have to take now based on the figures that are in front of us?”