Dáil rushes Budget legislation as FF discusses Cowen leadership

The legislation to give effect to all the welfare cuts in the Budget will be rushed through the Dáil by this evening.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party is again expected to discuss the issue of Brian Cowen's leadership.

The legislation will give effect to the cuts in dole, disability and child benefits and the Government is not risking backbenchers going back to their constituencies to rafts of complaints so the bill will pass all votes by this evening.

It will then have to go to the Seanad next week.

But attention today may switch from the Dáil chamber and up to the Fianna Fáil rooms.

Despite Brian Cowen's strong performances over the past 24 hours, questions and divisions remain about whether he should lead the party into the new year General Election.