‘Kiss and make up’ at FF meeting

BRIAN Cowen has faced down any immediate threat to his leadership after what one Fianna Fáil TD described as “a kiss and make up exercise by the Taoiseach” at a meeting of yesterday’s parliamentary party.

The Taoiseach has bought more time for his leadership after a call by one rebel TD for his resignation at yesterday’s meeting failed to get any support from his colleagues.

The chastened Taoiseach told his troops he would go away and consider concerns voiced by a number of deputies who last week privately said it was time for him to go, but failed to tell him this when they met him face to face.