Irish Prime Minster Brian Cowen has denied he was drunk or hung over in an interview he gave to Irish radio on Tuesday morning.

Cowen was on the Morning Ireland Show on RTE to discuss the nation’s finances. He is in Galway where his party, Fianna Fail, is holding a two day conference on party policy ahead of the resumption of the Irish parliament.

He later denied to a TV interviewer that he has either hung over or drunk but speculation and comment has been widespread in the media .
He called such comments “inaccurate and uncalled for”

Opposition Finance Minster Michael Noonan stated there were concerns over the leadership of the country.

'The was a feeling this morning ... that this can't continue, the game is up.'

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin defended Cowen saying he 'very hoarse' during the interview on Morning Ireland.

He said that the content of the interview Cowen gave was clear and focused on the estimates and the budget.

'There is always a social dimension to occasions such as this week's Fianna Fáil gathering, but no more than that.'