Hanafin: Greens do not have country's interests at heart

Tourism Minister Mary Hanafin has claimed the Greens' call for a General Election suggested the party did not have the best interests of the country at heart.

“I’m very annoyed by it,” she said.

“It certainly wasn’t expected. I’m not sure that they have shown that they have the best interests of stability of the country at heart but we will just work with them over the next couple of months.”

An Taoiseach Brian Cowen last night confirmed that he would seek a dissolution of the Dáil in the New Year and set a date for a General Election.

He denied he had bowed to pressure from the Greens in making the announcement.

"No one has pushed me into anything," he said.