General Election in the New Year: Brian Cowen’s statement to the Irish people

An Taoiseach Brian Cowen tonight made a statement from Leinster House in which he indicated that he will seek a dissolution of Dáil Éireann once the forthcoming vote on the budget has been taken.

Cowen made clear that he intends to tough it out for the rest of the year, despite increasing unrest on the Fianna Fail backbenches and the refusal of independent TDs to support the forthcoming austerity budget.

In his speech and when answering subsequent questions he repeatedly insisted that it was the responsibility of the whole of the Dáil to push the budget through.

"The vital national interests of this country require that financial stability be achieved by publishing a four year plan which sets out the necessary €15billion adjustments that will be implemented by 2014 by adopting a budget which affects a €6billion adjustment in 2011," he said.

"It is a matter of the highest importance that the government should continue to discharge its obligation to bring forward the necessary proposals.

"There will be a time for a political accountability to the electorate, but the interests of the electorate and of all our people will not be served by delaying, or worse still, casting into doubt the steps which are necessary to secure our economy and financial stability.

"The government will publish its four year plan next Wednesday and will continue negotiations with the European Union, the ECB and the IMF, and it will present a budget to the Dáil on 7 December.

Duty

"We believe there is a clear duty on all members of Dáil Éireann to facilitate the passage of these measures, in the uniquely serious circumstances in which we find ourselves. The political and financial stability of the State requires no less."

"It is my intention at the conclusion of this budgetary process, with the enactment of the necessary legislation in the New Year, to then seek a dissolution of Dáil Éireann and to enable the people to determine who should undertake the responsibilities of government in the challenging period ahead thereafter."

Earlier today, the Green Party, who are currently the junior partners in a government coalition with Cowen's Fianna Fáil, called for a General Election in the second half of January 2011. The Greens are set to support the budget, but have made it clear that they believe that a new public mandate is needed.

Fianna Fáil face a tough task in any future election - to read about five famous electoral wipe-outs click here.