Labour: ‘Stunning failure by Cowen to blame for crisis’

A “stunning failure” on the part of Brian Cowen as both Taoiseach and finance minister has brought about the economic crisis, according to the Labour Party.

In an attack on the Taoiseach’s recent speech claiming the recession was not his fault, Labour leader, Eamon Gilmore, said attempts to escape responsibility “added insult to injury” to the thousands of people suffering as a result of the downturn and was “a grave injustice” to the country.

“The fact of the matter is that his party is in Government for the last 13 years and he must take responsibility for what has happened,” Mr Gilmore said during Leaders’ Questions – the first appearance of the Taoiseach in the Dáil since his speech to the North Dublin Chamber last Thursday night in which he accepted responsibility for decisions taken by the Government but did not admit culpability for the downturn.