TDs rethinking their decision on confidence vote

SHELL-SHOCKED Fianna Fáil TDs have begun to question if Taoiseach Brian Cowen can be overthrown as party leader just two days after voting confidence in his stewardship.

Minister Mary Hanafin, who has been given extra responsibilities for Enterprise and Trade, said the Taoiseach’s attempt to promote five backbenchers to ministerial posts was “cynical”.

She said she told Mr Cowen of her views at a meeting yesterday morning and asked him not to proceed.

Elsewhere rebel TDs attempted to gather 18 signatures needed to table a no confidence motion in Mr Cowen for the next parliamentary meeting.

Junior minister Conor Lenihan went as far as to call on grassroots members to communicate their anger directly to headquarters and demand a change of leadership.

He told TV3 some TDs who supported Mr Cowen at Tuesday’s parliamentary party meeting had now changed their mind.

“I want to appeal to the ordinary members of our party, up and down the country, who are as frustrated and angry as I am about what has occurred to express that anger very forcefully to leaders, TDs and to the party authorities at the highest level and at every level.

“We need to mobilise them and I want them to contact our party and encourage people that we need change,” he said.

Following Mr Cowen’s speech to the Dáil, when he announced his decision not to replace the resigning ministers, a gathering of TDs involving Micheál Martin, Brian Lenihan, Conor Lenihan, John McGuinness and Michael Kennedy met in a huddle outside the Dáil chamber.

Mr Kennedy said the party should have voted no confidence in Mr Cowen when it had the chance on Tuesday.

Meanwhile former minister Willie O’Dea said the debacle had created the air of instability.