Lenihan advised Cowen on confidence motion

FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan advised Brian Cowen to act aggressively in defending his position by tabling the motion of confidence in his leadership.

A spokeswoman for Mr Lenihan last night said that while the minister would contest the leadership were a vacancy to arise, he would do nothing to “trigger” such a vacancy.

As a result, rather than expressing no confidence in Mr Cowen’s leadership, as Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin did last night, Mr Lenihan instead advised the Taoiseach yesterday on how to survive the challenge.

The spokeswoman said that Mr Lenihan had recommended to Mr Cowen that he table a motion of confidence in his own leadership in a bid to end the questions over his position.

Mr Cowen did precisely that, and the vote on the motion will take place by secret ballot in Leinster House tomorrow.

Mr Lenihan “is glad that the Taoiseach has taken the initiative of tabling a motion of confidence in himself, having advocated that course of action to him earlier in the day,” the spokeswoman said. While the minister shared Mr Martin’s anxiety about the direction of the party, Mr Lenihan had not been manoeuvring to force Mr Cowen out, she said.

However, were a vacancy to arise, Mr Lenihan would contest the leadership with Mr Martin and any other candidates who emerged, she added.

“Were a vacancy to arise, he would be a candidate, yes,” the spokeswoman said. “He is very concerned about the state of the party — deeply worried — but it was never his intention to trigger a vacancy.”

Mr Cowen’s future as leader will depend on tomorrow’s vote. He admitted yesterday that Fianna Fáil procedures provided only for a motion of no confidence to be tabled in the leader.

However, he was dispensing with procedure because there was a “political and confidence issue” at stake which he wanted resolved immediately.

He said he had therefore decided to table the motion of confidence in his own leadership. It’s understood Mr Lenihan was one of a number of senior ministers who advocated such a move, including Enterprise Minister Batt O’Keeffe, who is regarded as one of Mr Cowen’s most loyal allies.

Mr Cowen expressed confidence that he would win the vote. Fianna Fáil has 72 TDs but only 71 will vote, as the Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil, Seamus Kirk, will not participate.

Fianna Fáil last night said that “half plus one” would be required to pass or defeat the motion, meaning 36 votes is the target for either side.

“By taking this initiative, I believe I am acting in the best interest of the party and its membership, and I am confident of the outcome,” Mr Cowen said. “Once we have dispensed with this issue, we will unite behind whatever decision is taken and focus our attention on the work in hand at both party and Government level.”