We should not be so negative, insists Cowen
Saturday November 28 2009
TAOISEACH Brian Cowen was under fire last night for calling for an end to the "overwhelming negativity" on the state of the economy.
His comments come at a time when 422,500 people are on the dole and the Exchequer deficit is approaching €22bn.
But in a speech to the Irish Exporters Association, Mr Cowen said optimism and potential were words "we need to hear more of".
"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," he said.
In his speech to exporters last Thursday night, Mr Cowen said the community response to the flooding was an indication of people's determination to work together and rebuild the country.
Two years ago, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern also said he didn't share the analysis that "we should get up every day and try to talk ourselves down".
But Mr Cowen caused outrage with his next remarks to delegates from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in Bundoran in Donegal about the economic "merchants of doom" and "whingers".
"Sitting on the sideline or the fence, cribbing and moaning is lost opportunity.
"In fact I don't know how people who engage in that don't commit suicide," he said.
Labour Cork East TD Sean Sherlock said he would love to know who was advising Mr Cowen about his speeches.
"Rather than casting some negative aspersions on the Irish people, he needs to portray a positive image and lead by example."
Mr Sherlock accused Mr Cowen of being "virtually invisible" in terms of getting out and engaging with people.
"It shouldn't take a flooding disaster for the Taoiseach to take a tour of the country. If he was meeting more people outside of the confines of Government Buildings, he would realise the vast majority of people are getting on with it but they are looking for leadership," he said.
Mr Cowen has made the issue of excess negativity a recurring theme in many of his speeches this year.
- Michael Brennan
Irish Independent
