The Taoiseach received the backing of the majority of Parliament following a confidence motion tabled by opposition party Fine Gael.

The Fianna Fáil and Green Party coalition government won the vote by 82-77.

The motion, which was debated in Parliament on 15 June, questioned Taoiseach Brian Cowen's ability to manage the country’s economy.

Mr Cowen accepted responsibility for failing to foresee Ireland's economic crisis in 2008, but accused the opposition parties of hypocrisy as they also failed to see the crisis coming.

The confidence vote was overshadowed by an unexpected leadership crisis in the Fine Gael party, as latest polls showed a sharp decline in support for the opposition party leader Enda Kenny.