Cowen backs standby credit line

Former taoiseach Brian Cowen has suggested an emergency credit line should be in place when Ireland exits the bailout after saying the “best contingencies” possible should be provided.

He also said he hoped the Coalition would in time come to remember the Fianna Fáil budgets he oversaw which he said helped stabilise the country.

He was also critical of the recent attack on fellow former taoiseach Bertie Ahern but said individuals were entitled to their opinion as long as there was mutual respect.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner ahead of launching a book on the late Páidí Ó Sé, he said he was “quite sanguine” about how history would judge him as a politician. Mr Cowen, who resigned in 2011, said: “We did our work to the best of our ability and I’ve been hopefully generous to this administration in the work that they’ve had to do.

“Maybe at some stage they’d reciprocate in some measure [and recognise] that the four difficult budgets we had to bring in contributed to the stabilisation of the country as well at a time when things were very difficult.”

Asked about the recent incident in a Dublin pub where Bertie Ahern was attacked with a crutch, he responded: “I don’t think that should be regarded as a typical incident, it isn’t. Those things can happen.”

Asked if Ireland needed an emergency line of credit when it leaves the bailout programme next month, he said some sort of measure should be in place. “I’d say provide whatever best contingencies you can,” he said.

Speaking of the late Ó Sé, he praised the Kerryman’s ability to inspire confidence. Launching Páidí: A Big Life by sports journalist Donal Keenan, he said the late football manager believed in the power of sport and the ability to take risks.