NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish Pubs Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > News > Irish leader Brian Cowen calls an election for March 11- SEE POLL

Irish leader Brian Cowen calls an election for March 11- SEE POLL

Day of chaos finally ends with definite election date

DARA KELLY,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Thursday, January 20, 2011, 8:52 AM

Updated Thursday, January 20, 2011, 11:38 AM

Larger Text

E-mail

9 Comments

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen has called an election for March 11

IrishCentral.com Poll

Irish Prime Minster Brian Cowen has called an Irish election for March 11th.

Speaking to a packed parliament, Cowen stated that he was reassigning six cabinet portfolios after six of his ministers resigned.

His comments ended a day of mounting chaos in the parliament as it became clear that the Green Party were preventing the Fianna Fail party from replacing the minsters who resigned .

Opposition leader Enda Kenny of Fine Gael said he was delighted there was finally an air of finality because of the naming of an election date.

Minister of State Conor Lenihan called for the Taoiseach’s resignation. Lenihan said that the developments over the past 24 hours meant that those who voted for a motion of confidence Cowen on Tuesday have now changed their minds. He urged senior ministers to act urgently.

The proceedings in Irish Parliament had been suspended as opposition leaders refused to move forward until Prime Minister Brian Cowen explained the six recent ministerial resignations.

Rumors of an impending collapse of the government and an immediate election were circulating as the Green Party met to decide whether they would withdraw support for the government.

Earlier today parliament was suspended after rowdy scenes. Opposition leader, Fine Gael’s Enda Kenny demanded that proceeding be suspended until Cowen could explain what was going on within the Government.

Kenny said “This is the worst government in history…This would not have happened even in the days of great dictators. It is unprecedented, what you have done.”

He continued “These are the last days of the worst government in the history of the state.”

1 2 Next page >

Nster.com

E-mail

9 Comments

See all comments

sandrak45 | Jan 23, 2011, 07:44 PM EST

what i think is brian cowen should resign if he has any respect for us irish people he would step down he has told us lies and he still has the cheek to stay.. GO BRIAN WE DONT WANT UUU

Report abuse

sirpeter | Jan 21, 2011, 10:02 PM EST

jacersagain...LoyalCitizen is such a head wreaker. I close my eyes and skip over his posts at this stage...I don't want another Woundedknee/Georgy..lol

Report abuse

Conjoly | Jan 21, 2011, 04:40 AM EST

Dublinjas don't be so sure. There are still 6 weeks to the election. The FF line will be 'it was the ministers and the top of the party that caused the problems, shure we're (the grass roots TDs) doing our best to represent our constituents etc. The polls simply mean that only 14% of respondents have the courage to admit they will vote FF. In a secret ballot, their share will be bigger. Only when it's confirmed that they are annihilated will I believe and allow myself a glass of champagne!

Report abuse

Dublinjas | Jan 21, 2011, 01:07 AM EST

Anyone with the ability to stop this incompetent and did not, or even try by exercising their vote in cabinet, is just as treasonous as this bovine splenetic idiot leader of a pig cow-en. And will receive the judgment of the Irish electorate in due course.

Report abuse

hyattsville | Jan 20, 2011, 11:07 PM EST

Loved Kitt's comment on some Fianna Fail lawmakers privately joking that Cowen had been calling around Thursday trying to offer them Cabinet posts - but they'd switched off their cell phones to avoid him. But seriously though... what an utter mess.

Report abuse

jacersagain | Jan 20, 2011, 08:43 PM EST

There goes ChrisButler, aka LoyalCitizen, again rotating like an old spinning, skipping LP record player with his “opinions in law” spiel. For jacers sake, Chris.. will ye ever say something real and pertinent to today’s ways of life instead of living in a world of your own old record player? Or even offer a way to fast-forward?

Report abuse

LoyalCitizen | Jan 20, 2011, 05:46 PM EST

The Irish People should not be to complacent. Irish Politicians have been using opinions in law to falsify everything for over a decade, which includes the voting system.

Report abuse

katetipp2 | Jan 20, 2011, 04:00 PM EST

Finally the monkeys are leaving the Zoo.

Report abuse

GeorgeDillon | Jan 20, 2011, 02:50 PM EST

I am sure there is rejoicing among people in Ireland today that the days are numbered that they have to put up with Fat Rat and his Fianna Fail Mass Immigration Party.

Report abuse