OPPOSITION REACTION:LABOUR IS unlikely to press ahead with a motion of no confidence in the Government next week now that the date for the general election has been set.
However, party leader Eamon Gilmore said last night he planned to leave the motion on the Dáil agenda for now in case circumstances changed.
Both Mr Gilmore and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny welcomed the announcement by the Taoiseach of a date for the election, but said polling day should be sooner.
Both Opposition leaders came separately to the plinth of Dáil Éireann yesterday afternoon to respond to unfolding events and announce an unofficial start of their campaigning for the general election.
Mr Gilmore said Labour would see how things developed over the coming day before deciding whether to proceed with the no confidence motion.
He said Ireland must now “concentrate on the future”.
“This country and its people have gone through hell and fire over the last number of years ... We need to restore hope and confidence in this country, and fix a system that has been manifestly broken.”
Mr Gilmore said it was time to take the country back. There were just 50 days left to “unleash” again the “energy, commitment, patriotism and sheer gut decency of the Irish people” and to rid the country of cronyism.
He called on the public to elect a Labour-led government “driven by the concerns of the many, not the insider few”.
Mr Kenny said Brian Cowen should have the courage to go to the President and tender his resignation. Fianna Fáil was “pulling the wool” over the eyes of Green leader John Gormley by not informing him of the party’s “machinations” in relation to the resignation of Ministers.
“The Greens are being sneered at and laughed at behind their backs by Fianna Fáil and taken for fools,” said Mr Kenny, speaking yesterday at the launch of a Fine Gael policy document on small businesses.
He said he was looking forward to the forthcoming campaign now that Mr Cowen had given “finality and conclusion and clarity” to the issue. He recognised the importance of passing the Finance Bill ahead of the election but warned that his party, if elected, would unpick some of the measures proposed by the current Government.
Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said at least a lot of young people would be given the opportunity to vote by holding the election on a Friday.
He said that while the election could and should still be held earlier than March 11th, there would be “widespread relief and satisfaction” that the end of the Government was in sight.
Mr Ó Caoláin said both Government parties deserved to be “devastated” in the polls, and the election must mark a “sea-change in Irish politics”.