Opposition attack ‘shambolic’ leadership

BRIAN COWEN has warned against Ireland becoming “enslaved to the markets” as he came under mounting pressure in the Dáil.

The Taoiseach rejected claims he had put the economies of our European neighbours at risk by his own “shambolic mismanagement” of Irish affairs and said his Government — in discussions with EU counterparts — was “trying to underpin stability for the entire euro area.”

Market sentiment is “not normal at the moment” and does not take into account the “underlying strength of the Irish economy”, Mr Cowen told the Dáil during Leaders’ Questions.