Cowen to be ditched to save Lisbon? Per rte.

[Chrisco]

How would it be politically suicidal? For FF's sake, anything is better than Cowen.

Precisely what the British Labour Party are beginning to think about Brown...

[FutureTaoiseach]

If the Taoiseach resigns, the government resigns. While there's precedent now for replacing one government within the lifetime of a Dail, there is certainly no precedent for two. There'd need to be a General Election.

There is nothing in the Constitution to require a General Election when the Taoiseach resigns. Nothing. A GE can only come about when the President agrees to call one on the advice of the Taoiseach, and that advice is only binding on her if the Taoiseach has the support of a Dail majority. She cannot be compelled to call a GE unless the Taoiseach has the support of such a majority. See Article 13.2 of the Constitution:

1. Dáil Éireann shall be summoned and dissolved by the President on the advice of the Taoiseach.

2. The President may in his absolute discretion refuse to dissolve Dáil Éireann on the advice of a Taoiseach who has ceased to retain the support of a majority in Dáil Éireann.

3. The President may at any time, after consultation with the Council of State, convene a meeting of either or both of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

[fergalr]

I couldn't see the Greens missing that opportunity to get out of government. If they didn't want to look like FF stooges, they wouldn't go along with it. I am aware that I'm talking about the Greens.. Yeah alright..