Ireland's junior coalition partners the Greens are to decide if they will pull out of Government over the dramatic resignation of Taoiseach Brian Cowen as leader of the ruling Fianna Fail party.
Crisis talks are being held to discuss the future of the troubled coalition, with a statement expected later.
On Saturday, Mr Cowen bowed to an onslaught of pressure and criticism from former allies and quit as party leader after an epic week of political chaos sparked by a failed leadership heave, six ministerial resignations and a botched Cabinet reshuffle.
However the Taoiseach vowed to stay on as head of the coalition government until the March 11 General Election.
The Greens threatened to bring down the Government on Thursday in the row over filling Cabinet seats left empty by the string of ministerial resignations but remained in the coalition to ensure the passing of the Finance Bill, which gives effect to Budget 2011 and other new cost-saving measures.
But the main opposition parties have now agreed to facilitate the passage of the proposed legislation by the end of the week in return for the election date being brought forward.
Fine Gael has also threatened to table a motion of no confidence in Mr Cowen as Taoiseach in the Dail (parliament) next Tuesday, as a motion of no confidence in the Government is being debated, unless an immediate date for the general election is set.
