Taoiseach turns on 'prophets of doom'
JODY CORCORAN
EXCLUSIVE
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern has rounded on the "nay-sayers" and "merchants of doom" many of whom, he says, have a vested interest in talking down the economy, depressing expectations and damaging Ireland's reputation abroad.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Sunday Independent, Mr Ahern, in fighting spirit, said "practical patriotism" at this time was about confidence and "optimism born of experience".
He also spoke critically of the Mahon Tribunal, saying he took "grave exception" to the "abuse of privilege" which he believed had taken place there. Mr Ahern, who is scheduled to appear as a witness at the tribunal later this month, said he was "looking forward" to "vindicating my good name" in the witness box.
He also ruled out any any further reform of Stamp Duty, dismissed talk of an amalgamation between Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats, and firmly stood over his view that the controversial Independent TD Beverley
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Clearly in confident mood, the Taoiseach said his main message was that people should not allow themselves be convinced by the "merchants of doom" that the Irish economy was in trouble or that the good times were over.
While there were immediate challenges, the Taoiseach said we had to "react sensibly" to these and other longterm challenges. "Some of that reaction may be painful," he warned.
He said that on Wednesday in Bundoran, Co Donegal, he would be making a major speech to delegates at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. His message, he said, will be that "we have the potential within ourselves, not only to protect what has been achieved, but to develop it further into the period ahead."
The challenges included accelerating global competition. "What we have to do is to make Ireland the attractive place to locate and develop high quality jobs which will last. That means we have to have the right infrastructure, the right skills, the right regulatory policies and the right attitude towards change," the Taoiseach said.
But he added: "Since I became Taoiseach, so-called economic experts have been predicting the demise of our economy. Time and again, this has turned out to be false. Perhaps the fact that [public] confidence remains high shows that they . . . take the more dire warnings with a pinch of salt.
"The reality is that Ireland has been hugely successful as a modern economy in a globalising world. We have slowly but surely moved ourselves into the knowledge economy, and now a whole generation of young Irish people rightly expect better jobs in a wide range of areas.
"But let me be very clear. Ireland is facing into more challenging economic times. We have faced these before and I believe that we have responded in a sensible and mature way. We can all agree that kneejerk reactions will only serve to damage our economy and society in the longer term.
"In 2002, Ireland confounded all of our critics by coming strongly out of the worst global downturns in decades. In Government, I will work with my partners, new and old, to ensure that the right decisions are again taken for our . . . future."
Mr Ahern referred to an ERSI report published last week showing the "huge social and psychological benefits" of Ireland's high income, high employment economy.
"They also show that it has not produced a more unequal society or a more unhappy people - on the contrary, our economic success has been the foundation for important social and community progress."
But he said Ireland has "lost competitiveness", costs have risen and the weakening of the dollar has impacted on profitability. Inflation has been higher than expected as a result of measures beyond the Government's control.
"All of it will require us to be far more flexible in responding to pressure and exploiting opportunities," he said.
