Irish Foreign Minister tenders resignation

Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin tendered his resignation yesterday after Prime Minister Brian Cowen challenged his party to back him in a confidence vote this week, reports said.

Mr Martin said he would vote against Mr Cowen in the confidence motion tomorrow after the Premier challenged rebels in his ruling Fianna Fail party to back him, the BBC and Sky News television reported.

Mr Martin – viewed as the most likely challenger to Mr Cowen – however said that the Premier had indicated his resignation would not be necessary, the reports said.

The Prime Minister said any issue over his leadership of Fianna Fail should be “resolved immediately” and he had decided to place a motion of confidence in his leadership before a parliamentary party meeting.

“By taking this initiative, I believe I am acting in the best interests of the party and its membership and I am confident of the outcome,” he added.

He has strongly denied any suggestion of impropriety and rejected opposition accusations that he was an “economic traitor” over previously undisclosed contacts with the now bankrupt former boss of Anglo Irish, Sean FitzPatrick.

Anglo Irish, which had been Ireland’s third biggest bank, was nationalised two years ago and was at the heart of the country’s financial crisis which led to it seeking financial help.

Opinion polls show Mr Cowen’s personal popularity rating and those of the coalition have slumped to record lows since Ireland had to seek an international bailout.

A recent survey by Red C showed Mr Cowen had just a 10 per cent popularity rating and that only 14 percent of voters would give a first preference vote to Fianna Fail at the upcoming general election.