14/10/2010

Kenny Accepts Budget Meeting Offer

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has made the surprise move of agreeing to meet with the Taoiseach to discuss options for December's budget.

Brian Cowen had written to both party leaders yesterday afternoon, requesting the meeting in the midst of hefty Opposition criticism over the Government's economic policies.

The letter read: "Notwithstanding the major political differences between us, I believe that the pursuit of the national interest and the common good must have priority at this time."

Mr Kenny said he would be happy to meet with the Fianna Fail leader and said he welcomed the fact the Taoiseach was "seeing the light".

The Labour leader has not yet agreed to or rejected the meeting, saying he wasn't sure what the Taoiseach was proposing.

Brian Cowen is expected to be looking for consensus coming up to what is expected to be a politically risky budget this September, and with Fianna Fail's slim majority and dissenting backbench, the Taoiseach will be striving for all the support he can get.

The Taoiseach made contact with the parties nearly a week after the proposal on cross party consensus was put forward by Green Party leader John Gormley.

Mr Kenny said he was pleased the Taoiseach had decided to meet the Opposition leaders. “I welcome it and will be responding positively to Mr Cowen’s letter,” he said.

This morning, Fine Gael’s Damien English said Mr Kenny had made the right decision.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland Mr English said it will be “a step by step process”. He said while it is a very difficult position for the party, “the country is in such a dire straight we have to look at all solutions and all ideas to try and talk this through.”

(DW/GK)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

21 July 2016
Taoiseach Enda Kenny Meets With French President Francois Hollande
The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has met with French President, Francois Hollande, to discuss a range of EU counter-terrorism measures and the impact of the UK's Brexit decision. During the meeting the Taoiseach reiterated the sympathy and solidarity of the Irish people with France in the wake of the attack in Nice on 14 July.
15 October 2010
Gilmore Accepts Cowen's Meeting Offer
The Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has accepted the Taoiseach's offer of a meeting to discuss the upcoming budget. Mr Cowen had written to both party leaders yesterday afternoon, requesting the meeting in the midst of hefty Opposition criticism over the Government's economic policies.
06 April 2009
Kenny 'To Be Next Taoiseach'
The Fine Gael opposition leader, Enda Kenny, has said he expects to be the next Taoiseach. Speaking on RTÉ's currtent affairs programme This Week, Mr Kenny said his party will be the largest party in the next Dáil and the Labour Party would be their desired coalition partners.
11 February 2016
175 New Jobs Announced For Galway
One hundred and seventy five new jobs are to be created by a pharmaceuticals company in Galway. Chanelle is to invest €70 million in expanding its manufacturing capacity and in its Research and Development facilities. The jobs are to be created over the next five years at the companies headquarters in Loughrea, Co Galway.
21 November 2014
120 New Jobs Announced In Cork
One hundred and twenty new jobs have been created by technology firm Xanadu in Cork. Taoiseach Enda Kenny visited the firm's headquarters in Blackpool to announce the jobs. The firm, established in 2011, provides technical support to its clients.