Ireland's Foreign Minister Micheal Martin gestures during a news conference at a hotel in Dublin Jan 16, 2011. Martin said on Sunday he would be interested in the leadership of the Fianna Fail party if a vacancy arose and will be voting against Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen's leadership in a party vote on Tuesday.[Photo/Agencies]

 

Ireland's Foreign Minister Micheal Martin gestures during a news conference at a hotel in Dublin January 16, 2011. Martin said on Sunday he would be interested in the leadership of the Fianna Fail party if a vacancy arose and will be voting against Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen's leadership in a party vote on Tuesday.

DUBLIN - The Irish government's chief whip said on Monday he had not heard of any minister backing Foreign Minister Micheal Martin who has decided to vote against unpopular Prime Minister Brian Cowen in a confidence vote.

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"I haven't heard of any other minister backing Micheal Martin at this time," John Curran told state broadcaster RTE.

Analysts say Cowen is likely to have enough support within the Fianna Fail parliamentary party to secure his tenure until the election, which is expected to take place in March.