Cowen Calls For End To Economic 'Negativity'

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has said the "overwhelming negativity" over the economy was not in the country's national interest.

Speaking at the Irish Exporters' Association in Dublin last night, Mr Cowen spoke of the community spirit he had seen as members of the public rallied together to combat the recent flooding throughout the state.

Mr Cowen said it was an indication of "resilience" and "determination to work together and rebuild the country".

"This overwhelming negativity needs to stop because it's not in our national interest to see that continue.

"It is portraying our country as incapable of coping when, in fact, all of the success we had in the past was not illusory.

"It is the community spirit that I have seen throughout the country in recent days as some communities face a very difficult situation because of the weather conditions."

The Taoiseach's comments come as Fine Gael announce their latest plan to tackle the country's financial difficulties.

Unveiling the plan, the Fine Gael Leader, Enda Kenny said that if implemented, the policy would represent the single greatest transformation of the Irish economy and commercial semi state sector in over 50 years.

The plans includes €18bn worth of investment in broadband, green energy and water networks over a four year period that Fine Gael believes would reposition the Irish economy while creating 105,000 new jobs.

The Fine Gael Leader said: “Fine Gael has a radical plan to transform our economy, make it competitive again and to get our people back to work. This plan is part of a wider set of proposals that we as a party are going to put to the electorate at the next election.

"We want to transform our political system by reducing the number of Oireachtas members by 1/3rd and we want to introduce the hugely successful Dutch universal health care system to replace our failed health system."

(DW/KMcA)