Labour's deputy leader Joan Burton has accused the Taoiseach of ‘getting everything wrong’ on the economy.
She was speaking at the party's National Conference in Galway, which this afternoon agreed to oppose the introduction of domestic water charges.
In her address, Ms Burton attacked the Government's policy on Anglo Irish Bank.
She said Anglo's only claim to fame was that it was ‘joined at the hip to Fianna Fáil’, which was determined to use taxpayers money to bail it out, no matter how many billions it costs and how many jobs disappear in the process.
Deputy Burton accused Taoiseach Brian Cowen of getting pretty much everything wrong from the day he entered the Department of Finance, up to the decision to cover Anglo in the State guarantee.
Later delegates voted to oppose the introduction of water charges, and promised to abolish them after the next election if they are introduced by the Government.
Other motions adopted included a call to reverse the Budget cuts in basic social welfare rates and in child benefit; while Enterprise Spokesperson Willie Penrose said the party would not tolerate any dismantling of the minimum wage.
SDLP/Fianna Fáil merger ruled out
The new leader of the SDLP has ruled out a merger of her party with Fianna Fáil.
Margaret Ritchie this evening told the Labour Party conference that such a merger would not happen on her watch.
She said her policy was to maintain good relations with all the parties in the south.
Ms Ritchie, Minister for Social Development in the Northern Executive, said she was not impressed with NAMA, which she described as 'a Rehab Centre for banks', and criticised the decision not to close down Anglo Irish Bank.
Earlier, Labour TD Pat Rabbitte called for the assets of rogue bankers to be seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau.
Mr Rabbitte said people could not understand why nobody has gone to jail for destroying the economy.
This morning's session focused heavily on banks and the need for a full public inquiry into the Government's handling of the crisis in the sector.
Mr Rabbitte said pending the outcome of the legal process, the CAB should confiscate their substantial assets and properties and that the law should be changed if necessary to allow them to do so.
Cork North Central TD Kathleen Lynch said the withdrawal of Special Needs Assistants from schools was the effect of what she called Seán FitzPatrick's 'treason'.
MEP for Ireland South Alan Kelly said the Government had bailed out the banks and the builders, now it was time for someone to bail out ordinary, working people.
Quinn criticises cutbacks in education
Government cutbacks in the education sector also came in for criticism at the conference this morning.
Delegates voted in favour of a motion that would commit Labour in Government to increase investment in the sector to 7% of Gross Domestic Product.
Members also voted in favour of setting up a forum to explore how to take schools out of the control of the Catholic Church and into community control.
Education Spokesman Ruairi Quinn said it was not an anti-religious point of view, but that the dominance of the church is no longer appropriate in Irish schools.
Mr Quinn also said the religious orders should transfer the legal ownership of their schools to the State in order to share the costs of the Redress Board.
Earlier, councillor Aodhán Ó Riordáin told members that the only thing more frightening than Mary Coughlan as Minister for Education, was the prospect of a Fine Gael minister holding the
portfolio.
Delegates have voted to retain income tax exemption for artists, where the artist earns a maximum of €50,000 per annum.
They also voted in support of imposing a levy of 1.5% on telephone and online betting, to finance the horse and greyhound industries.
