Green Party Calls For General Election In January

The Green Party says it will pull out of government in the New Year, and called for a date to be set for a general election in the second half of January.

The junior coalition party said on Monday: "The past week has been a traumatic one for the Irish electorate. People feel misled and betrayed".

Party leader John Gormley said the decision had been taken following a long meeting of the party on Saturday.

But he said three things must be done first to secure the future prosperity and independence of Ireland.

He said he believed it was in the country's interest to now secure the funding support from the EU and IMF.

He said he also wanted to see the four year budgetary plan published, and Budget 2011 be delivered next month.

But after that, the people need political certainty to take them beyond the coming two months, Mr Gormley added.

Meanwhile, two of the three independents on whose support the Government depends - Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy-Rae, have indicated they are not likely to support December's budget.

Mr Healy-Rae said recent events had "totally undermined whatever little bit of confidence" he had in the Government, and accused the Taoiseach and Ministers of "telling blatant lies" to the Irish people.

Mr Lowry said people were "demoralised and bewildered" and it was "highly unlikely" that he would support the budget.

This puts the passing of the budget into doubt, as all it would take is one rebel TD from Fianna Fail's back benches to decide it was in his interest to be seen to oppose the government's proposed cutbacks with a general election looming.