Gilmore predicts Govt to fall before Christmas

The Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has said he is not confident the Government will survive until Christmas.

Mr Gilmore also rubbished newspaper reports suggesting that if Brian Cowen were to resign as Taoiseach, Labour would consider entering coalition with Fianna Fáil.

The party has already begun canvassing for the next election, and Eamon Gilmore said it could even happen before Christmas.

Mr Gilmore said: "There are the issues of the three outstanding local by-elections. You would want to be very brave now to predict that the Government would survive beyond Christmas."