Cowen averts FF leadership threat at Party meeting

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has seemed to have averted any threat of a direct challenge to his leadership at tonight's meeting of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party.

A number of backbench TDs, including Cork's Noel O'Flynn, expressed their unhappiness with Mr Cowen's leadership and called on him to step down.

However others, including Galway TD Noel Treacy, defended Mr Cowen, who told TDs that he would remain on as leader to see through the publication of the four year plan, the budget and the duration of the IMF talks.

It is now unlikely that Mr Cowen will face a challenge to his leadership until after the budget.