Lenihan denies involvement in bid to oust Taoiseach

A meeting of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party is getting underway soon where the Taoiseach's leadership is set to take centre stage.

Brian Cowen will have to inform his TDs and Senators whether he will resign or face down a motion of no confidence in him.

It is understood that senior members of the Cabinet asked Mr Cowen to go.

If a motion of no confidence is tabled at the meeting it cannot be debated and voted on until next week.

Speaking in Belfast this afternoon, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan insisted he is not involved in any heave against the Taoiseach.

A Technical Group, Sinn Féin and two Independents, have tabled a motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach.

The leader of the Technical Group in the Dáil, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, announced the motion this afternoon had been tabled by the seven members of the group.

Deputy Ó Caoláin said: "We call on Fine Gael and Labour to support this motion of no confidence."