ENDGAME

BRIAN COWEN has grimly insisted he will cling to office to push the budget through before ceding early next year to Green Party demands for a general election.

But the chances of passing the budget remain on a knife-edge, with the cabinet dangerously split and Fianna Fáil backbenchers urging Mr Cowen to resign.

Mr Cowen faces a crucial meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party tonight in which he will have to face down his critics and convince TDs and senators to back him until the budget is delivered.