THE LABOUR PARTY is expected to decide later today whether to go ahead with their planned vote of of confidence in the government, now that the general election has been set for 11 March.

Yesterday, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore left the motion on the agenda in order to give the party time to assess the situation.

The move follows a cabinet crisis in Leinster House, in which Brian Cowen was forced to backtrack on his attempt to appoint six new Fianna Fáil party members to ministerial posts – after the move was blocked by the Green Party. Cowen instead reassigned the portfolios in question to existing ministers.

The taoiseach then announced that the date for the forthcoming general election would be set for 11 March. However, following yesterday’s turmoil many are questioning whether Cowen will last as long as then – with rumours of another heave surfacing in the very week that he won a motion of confidence.

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Labour to decide on confidence motion in government

Making a difference

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