Martin continues to canvas for support against Taoiseach

The Taoiseach and the Foreign Affairs Minister are expected to spend today canvassing support ahead of tomorrow's Fianna Fáil vote of confidence in Brian Cowen.

The Taoiseach and the Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin are expected to spend today canvassing support ahead of tomorrow's Fianna Fáil vote of confidence in Brian Cowen.

The Tourism and Culture Minister Mary Hanafin is also expected to make her views on the leadership of the party known.

Last night in a bizarre twist Mr Martin announced he wanted to remove Brian Cowen as leader of the party and had offered his resignation from Cabinet, but the Taoiseach rejected it.

The Foreign Affairs Minister said he will vote against Mr Cowen tomorrow and wants others to do the same.

But he faces an uphill challenge to find enough rebels with the TDs in the party to oust the Taoiseach tomorrow.

There is no doubt Brian Cowen would not have moved the secret ballot vote in himself if he didn't think he could win it.

But key to the outcome could be the views of two other ministers in Cabinet - Brian Lenihan and Mary Hanafin.

There is an expectation that Minister Hanafin will speak publicly on the issue today and declare she doesn't support Brian Cowen as leader.