Ireland's PM to make statement

A number of ministers have told Cowen he needs to step down following revelations he played golf with the former chairman of Anglo Irish Bank just months before the scandal-riddled lender was taken into state care.


If Cowen decides to resign as head of Fianna Fail he could stay on as caretaker prime minister and call a parliamentary election, as already planned, once the last piece of legislation underpinning the budget is passed, likely in February.


"The Taoiseach (prime minister) has decided what he is going to decide and it is a matter for the Taoiseach to articulate that and not me," Deputy Prime Minister Mary Coughlan told state radio RTE.


"He will be making a public announcement later on in the evening."




But remaining on as premier without the full confidence of his own colleagues would be difficult and he may decide to dissolve parliament and call an immediate election instead.


The media reports have revived allegations of cozy relations between Fianna Fail and the bankers and property developers whose reckless loans brought the country's economy to its knees forcing Dublin to seek a humiliating EU/IMF bailout last year.


Such allegations have spooked some senior cabinet colleagues and backbench MPs already fearful of losing their seats in what is set to be a record rout for the Fianna Fail party in the upcoming poll.

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