TONIGHT IT IS still unclear whether Brian Cowen plans to stay on as leader of Fianna Fáil or step aside – however it is certain that the pressure on the taoiseach has intensified, with backbench Fianna Fáil TD Noel O’Flynn publicly calling on Cowen to resign.

O’Flynn said that he told Cowen in a telephone conversation earlier today that he believed he should step down as party leader. Speaking to RTÉ News, O’Flynn said that Cowen no longer had the confidence of the people of Ireland and that he should make way for a new leader. He added that he believed that several colleagues had discretely gone to Cowen to ask him to stand down.

O’Flynn said he believed the Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin was the best person to lead Fianna Fáil into the next general election.

Several other members of the party have voiced their desire for Cowen to resign, including John McGuinness, Ned O’Keeffe, Tom Kitt, Chris Andrews, Sean Power, MJ Nolan and Michael Kennedy. However, Cowen also has many supporters.

After two stressful days of consultation with his colleagues, Cowen is expected to make an announcement soon concerning the future of his leadership of Fianna Fáil.