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)