Taoiseach Failing in National Leadership Role – FF

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Justice Niall Collins has claimed that Taoiseach Enda Kenny is failing to provide national leadership as he seeks to exploit the Anglo Tapes for his own political advantage and distract from the alarming news that the country has slipped back into recession.

Responded to the Taoiseach’s latest comments in Brussels, Deputy Collins said, “It is hard to escape the conclusion that the Taoiseach is using ever more inflammatory language in an attempt to distract attention from his failure on the economy, as the country officially falls back into recession.

“I think Enda Kenny’s performance as holder of the office of Taoiseach this week has been deeply disappointing. What the people wanted and expected from our head of government when these tapes emerged was to see some leadership and a genuine commitment to getting to the truth. Instead, it appears that Mr Kenny’s priority is finding a way to exploit these tapes for his narrow political advantage. He is happy to allow the people who are actually on the tapes to escape without sanction if it will allow him create a series of political show trials.

“If Mr Kenny has any evidence to back up his political charges, he should present this evidence immediately. If he has any interest in what is actually in these tapes, the Taoiseach would move quickly to establish an inquiry with real teeth that can compel witnesses, hold these people to account and get a full picture of what happened in Ireland’s banks.”