Reshuffle Prompts Labour Calls For Election

The leader of the Labour party has called on the Taoiseach to "go to the country" as plans for a cabinet reshuffle emerge.

Speculation about the looming reshuffle was kickstarted this week after the Taoiseach Brian Cowen refused to replace the former Minister for Defence, Willie O'Dea, who resigned this week.

Despite calls from the largest opposition party, Fine Fail, to make wholesale changes it is believed Brian Cowen will stand by the key figures in his Cabinet.

The reshuffle will accompany changes to various government departments before the Green Party conference next month, in a bid to boost Fianna Fail's coalition partners who have suffered from a number of resignations in the past fortnight.

On the foot of the ongoing difficulties being experienced by the Government, Eamon Gilmore, leader of the Labour Party, challenged the Government to "go to the country" during Leaders' Questions.

"We are in a very difficult, strange and worrying time for people," he said.

"It is not fair or responsible for the Taoiseach with a battered, broken, tired and now divided Government to continue to hang onto office in circumstances and times when the people need a competent functioning Government in which they can have confidence and one that has a mandate, something the Government no longer has."

Mr Gilmore added: "The one thing that is needed in these circumstances is a functioning Government in which people can have confidence... The Government led by the Taoiseach does not enjoy the confidence of the public."

(DW/GK)