Opposition steps up pressure

Opposition parties have today stepped up pressure on the Government as it seeks to push ahead with passing next month's budget.

Fine Gael again called for an immediate general election and said the four-year budgetary plan should only be implemented by a Government which has a proper mandate.

As doubts continue to persist over whether Taoiseach Brian Cowen can pass next month's crucial budget, Fine Gael enterprise spokesman Richard Bruton said today that only a newly elected administration should be involved in developing a full budgetary strategy.

"What is best for the country is that the negotiation about a programme for four years be done by a government which has four years to serve, that has a mandate from the public so that it has the authority and the credibility to not only develop and negotiate it but to implement it. I think that is in Ireland's best interest," he said.

Fine Gael deputy leader James Reilly said his party could not give a guarantee on passing the budget until they had seen it. "When we see the budget if the budget meets with all the requirements that we have that's a different matter," he said.

Dr Reilly said he would not "buy into" a budget he said was "from a government that has lied to the Dáil, lied to the people and doesn't tell each other what's going on, I'm certainly not buying into that."

The Labour Party said that while the Government may have the numbers required to pass next month's budget, it  would not be giving the coalition a "blank cheque."

This afternoon, Sinn Féin announced it had tabled a motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach.

The party's president Gerry Adams said it is unacceptable that Brian Cowen would seek to push ahead with a budget and a four year plan before dissolving the Dáil. “The Taoiseach should publish his four year plan, suspend the budget and call a general election now,” he said.

Mr Cowen yesterday announced plans to dissolve the Dáil early in the new year came in response to an announcement by Green Party leader John Gormley in the morning that his party wanted an election in the second half of January.

Following the Taoiseach's announcement, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore called for an immediate election before the budget, as did Sinn Féin.

Mr Cowen rang the leaders of Fine Gael and Labour late last night to stress the importance of the upcoming budget being passed.

While the Green Party has signalled its intention to back the budget, the coalition Government remains in a weakened position with a number of Fianna Fáil TDs calling for Mr Cowen to stand down.

Two of the three Independent TDs on whose support the Government relies yesterday also said they may not vote for the budget.

Kerry South TD Jackie Healy-Rae said recent events "have totally undermined whatever little bit of confidence” he had in the Government, while North Tipperary TD Michael Lowry said it was "highly unlikely" that he would support the budget.