Confidence in Irish Government at an all time low after resignation of Minister for Defence and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture.

Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea resigned from his post on 18 February 2010 over a defamation case.

Mr O'Dea, who had made a false statement to the courts over a rival politician, was asked by Taoiseach Brian Cowen to resign after the Green Party threatened to pull out of the coalition Government if Mr O'Dea stayed in office.

A week later Trevor Sergeant, the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, also tendered his resignation following the publication of leaked correspondence where he asked the Irish police to drop a case against one of his constituents.

Mr Sargent, a well respected politician in Irish politics, apologised saying that by writing such a letter on behalf of a constituent he had "over-stepped the line" and made an error of judgement.

There was further embarrassment for the Government as Fianna Fáil's Martin Cullen resigned as a member of Parliament on 8 March 2010, leaving the coalition partners with just a tight majority of 81 members of Parliament.

Latest opinion polls suggest that Fianna Fáil would be likely to lose over 20 seats if a General Election was held on the upcoming weeks