Irish PM will press on despite ratings slump

Reuters

WHO SAID I'M WHACK? Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen has rejected opinion polls showing growing public discontent with his government.

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Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen will press on despite opinion polls showing growing public discontent with the government's handling of the economy and a string of banking scandals.

Ireland faces its worse recession on record this year and banking scandals at Anglo Irish Bank have undermined the former "Celtic Tiger's" credibility as a financial services centre and raised public anger at using taxpayer funds to bail out lenders.

The Sunday Business Post/Red C poll showed support for Cowen's governing Fianna Fail party, which has dominated Irish politics since the 1930s, had slumped to a record low of 23 per cent, down from 28 per cent in January.

"I am not dispirited by it," Cowen told public broadcaster RTE. "I take on board that is a public view at the moment. You can't do your job or run the country on the basis of what you think would be the next opinion poll."

The poll also showed support for the Fine Gael opposition party was at 30 per cent from 33 per cent in January, while those in favour of opposition Labour had risen to 22 per cent from 14 per cent in the previous survey.

Fianna Fail has 75 votes in a 166-seat parliament and its governing coalition, which includes the Green Party with 6 seats, does not face re-election until 2012.

Opinion polls in recent weeks have shown Cowen's personal ratings were also at new lows.

Asked if he would lead his party to the next election, Cowen said: "That is my hope and intention and that is what I am committed to doing.

"I am far more pre-occupied with doing the business that's at hand. This country is fighting for its economic survival."

Public anger has grown at public spending cuts of 2 billion euros to plug a massive hole in public finances, which has led to growing demonstrations.

A separate poll in Saturday's Irish Independent showed 84 per cent of those canvassed were not satisfied with the government's handling of the banking crisis.

Cowen said: "You earn the respect of your electorate when you are prepared to make decisions which are necessary in the common good."

A slew of data on Friday painted a bleak picture with a record drop in employment, an accelerated fall in house prices and mortgage lending at a 23-year low.

"We have seen a sharp rise in unemployment which is now 9.5 per cent and rising," Cowen said.

The government forecast in January gross domestic product was expected to contract 4 per cent this year, with gross national product projected to drop 4.5 per cent.

"This year with the economy contracting by 5 per cent we have the problem of recession itself," Cowen said, without giving details.

- Reuters