Backbencher dissent emerges in FF

A Fianna Fáil backbencher has questioned whether or not Brian Cowen is the right person to lead the party into the next general election.

Kildare TD Sean Power made his doubts known at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting last night.

However Mr Cowen received a round of applause when he said the issue of his leadership had already been addressed.

Meanwhile it has emerged that the Taoiseach was left out of discussions between the Greens and Finance Minister Brian Lenihan over whether there should be an all-party consensus on the budget.

Mr Cowen - who appears less than enthusiastic about the proposal, was not aware it had been discussed in his absence between Green Minister Eamon Ryan and the Finance Minister.