Disquiet in FF at Cowen 'dictator' style
Party colleagues are annoyed by 'autocratic' and 'dogmatic' approach of the new Taoiseach
Sunday May 18 2008
THE leadership style of Taoiseach Brian Cowen is already causing a degree of annoyance among Fianna Fail TDs, even at Cabinet, the Sunday Independent can reveal.
Just two weeks into the job, Mr Cowen has demonstrated a style of leadership which is radically different from the conciliatory approach of his predecessor, Bertie Ahern.
While some of his colleagues have welcomed as "refreshing" the manner in which Mr Cowen has set about his task, others, initially "surprised", now say they are "becoming annoyed".
Mr Cowen's emphasis on nationalism, coupled with his "rigid authoritarianism" has also stoked an element of "fear" within the parliamentary party not witnessed since the leadership of Charles Haughey.
One TD said of the new Taoiseach: "He's very blunt and dogmatic ... I think we have just elected a Stalinist, almost."
Another well-placed source said there was a "bad atmosphere" at meetings. Few of Mr Cowen's ministerial colleagues anticipated that he would adopt such a style. "A few don't like his divide-and-conquer approach," one well-placed source claimed.
Another reliable source said Mr Cowen's "dogmatic" attitude -- his authoritative assertion of unproved or unprovable principles -- is beginning to get under the skin of his parliamentary party.
"He is going around as if to say 'I am the oracle. If I say this or that, then that's the way it is,'" one TD said.
Another added: "His style is more suited to the 1950s, when people were not as enlightened ... I like to consider myself an educated man. I don't need to be lectured like this."
Another TD said: "In the parliamentary party, he is very, very dictatorial. I never realised he was such an autocrat."
Yet another TD said: "He is coming across as very dogmatic. It's a major culture shock. You'd want to be blind, deaf, dumb and stupid not to notice the change."
And another TD said: "You have to persuade people these days, not lay down the law Dev-style. He is a throwback to
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Dev. I didn't have the slightest clue he was going to be like this ... I don't know where this is coming from."
It should be stressed that these views are held by a minority of the Fianna Fail parliamentary party, and that Mr Cowen enjoys the majority support of his colleagues.
His supporters point to the results of an opinion poll last week, which showed an 8 per cent jump in support for Fianna Fail (to 48 per cent) since Mr Cowen was elected leader, returning the party to its rating at the general election. The new Taoiseach's personal popularity is also a healthy 52 per cent.
The poll was taken less than a week after Mr Cowen was elected Taoiseach and followed last weekend's celebrations in his home county of Offaly to mark his elevation to the position of head of Government.
However, with the economy facing its most difficult period in decades, the likelihood of the Government, Fianna Fail and Mr Cowen maintaining such popularity in the long term seems remote.
The ESRI last week said the current economic difficulties would be relatively short-term: it predicted a return to sustainable levels of growth after two years.
However, the ESRI forecast was based on the uncertain prediction that oil prices will drop to $71 a barrel from its current level of $125, and an economic growth rate of 2.5 per cent in the US.
In the short-term, however, the indicators are that the economy here is heading for even further difficulty. The Central Statistics Office last Friday reported a 9 per cent annual drop in car sales, signalling a retrenchment in consumer spending.
When placed alongside softer labour market conditions, tighter credit and higher inflation, the challenge facing the new Government is evident.
Addressing the IMPACT 2008 Biennial Delegate Conference in Kilkenny on Friday, Mr Cowen acknowledged the problem.
"The fact is that we now find ourselves in a much more uncertain economic environment, driven by factors like higher oil prices, rising interest rates and the appreciation of the Euro -- all of which are outside our control," he said.
He added that this was why the Goverment needed to direct its efforts towards providing certainty in those areas it controlled, citing pay, industrial peace and modern and efficient public services.
In relation to public service reform, he said: "I am determined to take decisive action to improve Irish public services."
He added: "I believe that it is also right that the implementation of pay increases for the public service, whether as a result of special benchmarking exercises or otherwise, should be conditional on verified compliance with the principles of good employment practice, including productivity and change, that underpin comparable pay levels and pay increases in the private sector."
But he also said: "Just as the public sector must behave responsibly and in accordance with proper policy approaches, there is also an onus on those in the private sector who are in a position to do so, to set and observe a proper degree of responsibility when it comes to setting income levels -- having regard to the wider demonstration effect which they inevitably will have."
- JODY CORCORAN
