Brian Cowen has admitted his government didn't prepare a Plan B in the case of economic collapse.
Mr Cowen's interview with TG4's 'Comhrá series' is the first major interview given by the former Taoiseach since he left office two and a half years ago.
The wide-ranging interview sees the 53-year-old discuss the events that led to the economic collapse - and discuss his own responsibility for Ireland's economic ruin.
Mr Cowen said there had been warnings about the possibility of a crash, but that the administration had not believed it - and nor did the IMF.
"There was a minority out there who were predicting trouble," Mr Cowen said, "but the truth is we didn't believe it.
"We thought the economy would have a soft landing, that economic growth would continue, and we coulod pay for it through the growth that was to come."
The former Taoiseach added that he had never truly wanted to become Taoiseach in the first place.
He said that when Bertie Ahern had decided to retire, nobody was seeking the position - and he put his own name forward only after his colleagues asked him to consider it.
Labour's junior minister Alan Kelly said Mr Cowen's comments are particularly remarkable as he had been the Minister for Finance for four years before becoming Taoiseach.
The interview airs on TG4's 'Comhrá' on September 5.
