IRELAND: FIVE MINISTERS QUIT IN TWO DAYS
January 20th, 2011

Via: BBC:

There has been uproar in the Irish parliament after five ministers quit the cabinet inside two days, with a sixth expected to join them.

It was confirmed overnight that four had tendered their resignations, joining Foreign Minister Micheal Martin, who stood down on Tuesday.

The enterprise minister is said to be also planning to resign.

Prime Minister Brian Cowen, faced with a general election this spring, is expected to name a new cabinet.

His government has seen its support rapidly dwindle since negotiating an international rescue for the debt-ridden economy last year.
‘Call elections now’

The Dail (parliament) was suspended for 15 minutes during rowdy scenes after the opposition demanded the taoiseach (prime minister) come into the House and clarify who was in charge of the six ministries affected.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said that in 20 years he had never been in a situation where “we don’t know if we have a government, who’s in the government”.