Five Votes Win Cowen Confidence Motion

Brian Cowen's Dublin coalition Government has won the Dáil confidence motion by a margin of five votes.

The motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach followed a six-hour debate in the Daíl. The vote followed shortly after resulting in an 82 to 77 split in favour of the coalition.

Fine Gael had originally tabled the motion of no confidence after two reports, scrutinising the Government's handling of the banking crisis, were published last week.

During the debate, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan closed by accusing the Opposition of abusing the two reports into the banking crisis and of not having read them.

Mr Lenihan praised Brian Cowen and said the Government has not and would not shirk from its duties.

Mr Cowen said that he believed the record, informed by the expert analysis within the reports, demonstrated he had "acted to correct imbalances in our tax relief system and to re-balance the focus of economic policy from an excessive dependence on property and construction towards a more balanced and sustainable economy".

During a debate on the motion, Mr Cowen said he took full responsibility for decisions he took as Minister for Finance and as Taoiseach.

Speaking about his successful vote, Mr Cowen said: "I am proud to affirm confidence in a Government which has proved willing to take the necessary decisions to get the economy on the road to recovery. I have long said that this is not a time for politics as usual. At all stages, we have shown the leadership required to get this country working again.

"This Government has provided confidence and credibility for Ireland in the markets. Right across Europe many countries are now facing serious problems in their public finances.

"Ireland has gained an advantage by moving quickly to tackle them."

The leader of Fine Gael, Enda Kenny, told the Dáil there was no excuse for the Government's conduct of the economy and called on the Taoiseach to resign.

(DW/BMcC)