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.

In his response to the offer, Mr Gilmore said the Labour Party always acted in the best interests of the country and responded positively to requests from the Taoiseach to meet to discuss matters national importance.

"Therefore I will accept your invitation to meet."

However, in a barbed acceptance, the Labour leader questioned the motives behind the meeting request, saying he remained to be persuaded that the exercise is intended to do anything more than "prolong the life of [Mr Cowen's] Government".

"It is in the national interest that the country has a strong and stable government, with a mandate for the next four or five years, to give effect to a plan for economic recovery. Such a mandate can only be provided by the people," Mr Gilmore said, before adding: "Therefore in order to provide confidence and certainty, you should seek a dissolution of the present Dail, and the holding of a General Election as soon as possible."

Yesterday, the Labour leader had delayed his decision to agree to or reject the meeting, saying he wasn't sure what the Taoiseach was proposing.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny was the first to make the surprise move of agreeing to meet with Brian Cowen to discuss options for the budget yesterday.

Despite initially rejecting calls to host a leader's meeting, Mr Cowen made the offer in a letter reading: "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."

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.

Yesterday 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/BMcC)