Irish leader's majority shrinks to just four

Irish premier Brian Cowen's slim majority in the Dáil has shrunk to just four seats after an independent MP said he was withdrawing his support in protest at proposed health cuts.

Mr Cowen plans to make at least €3 billion (2m) in new cuts in December and needs support from junior coalition partners the Greens, a handful of independents and some dissidents from his own Fianna Fail party to push them through.

Noel Grealish, previously a member of the now defunct Progressive Democrats, yesterday said he would no longer vote to support the government until planned cuts in health spending in his constituency in the west of Ireland were clarified.

"I am withdrawing my support from this government and if the Taoiseach (prime minister] wants to meet with me I am available," he told Galway radio. "I am in the process of writing a letter to health minister Mary Harney and the Taoiseach."

While most analysts say the budget should scrape through in a vote, backbenchers and independents that support Mr Cowen are likely to come under further pressure once cuts bite.

Mr Cowen, whose party trails the opposition in third place in the polls, will likely call by-elections to fill three vacant seats early next year, only to lose his majority.