Cowen: 'No problem in principle' with Greens' all-party plan

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen has said he agrees that some form of political consensus on a path out of the economic crisis is necessary, following the Green Party's call yesterday for an all-party economic forum.

Mr Cowen stopped short of agreeing to the Greens' call for an all-party forum.

Brian Cowen also played down suggestions that Social Affairs Minister Eamon O Cuiv had inadvertently revealed that the Budget "correction" this year would be €4.3bn, saying the Budget had not been finalised.

Green Party leader John Gormley has suggested a forum of all parties in the Dáil to achieve economic consensus and wants a meeting as soon as possible as work gets underway to formulate the four-year Budget strategy.

He spoke to the Taoiseach about it this afternoon. Brian Cowen later told reporters in Portlaoise that he was open to some discussions.

"I've no problem in principle with (any meetings that may derive at leadership level from the Green's idea) on the basis that we're talking about having a constructive discussion," he said.