Brian Cowen

Follow Brian Cowen Updates:

. . .

Irish government faces make-or-break vote on finance bill

By Ian Stevenson on | From personalwebreviews.ca

This article titled “Irish government faces make-or-break vote on finance bill” was written by Henry McDonald in Dublin, for guardian.co.uk on Wednesday 26th January 2011 13.25 UTC

Fianna Fáil is preparing to elect a new leader today as the outgoing Irish government faces another critical vote in parliament on its finance bill.

Three independent members of the Dáil have not yet given their backing to the bill, which would implement harsh public spending cuts, tax hikes and the slashing of the minimum wage. The legislation is part of a four-year programme to drive down Ireland’s crippling national debt and restore international faith in its economy.

Independent deputies Michael Lowry, Mattie McGrath and Jackie Healy-Rae have not indicated if they will back the bill.

If they voted against the measure at noon – the result is due to be announced at 3pm – the minority Fianna Fáil government will fall.

Their stance also puts pressure on opposition parties who, in government after the general election, would have to put through the unpopular package of tax hikes and cutbacks.

Yesterday Lowry said he would be likely to vote against the finance bill if four outstanding issues of concern to him were not addressed. He also said he originally committed himself to support a full government with leadership, direction and economic policies, not a “half government”.

Lowry said he had no “obligation or responsibility” to support a dysfunctional government. Healy-Rae said that his position on the finance bill was the same as that of Lowry.

It is not clear yet if the TDs are simply holding out for more concessions for their constituencies from the government before Ireland goes to the polls as the price for backing the bill.

Meanwhile, the former foreign affairs minister Micheál Martin is the clear frontrunner in the race to become leader of Fianna Fáil, party sources said last night.

Seven days ago Martin failed in an attempt to oust the taoiseach, Brian Cowen, as leader of Fianna Fáil. But in a week of turmoil and U-turns Cowen eventually stepped down from the party helm and triggered a leadership contest at the weekend.

The result of the vote among Fianna Fáil’s 71 members of the Dáil is expected to be announced before 3pm today.