DUBLIN, Ireland - Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen says he will not resign despite mounting criticism over Ireland's European-record deficit and international bailout.
Cowen's announcement Thursday came as lawmakers in his Fianna Fail party mulled whether to attempt to oust him in a no-confidence motion. Cowen challenged his critics to hold fire and invited them to meet him individually.
Cowen says he must stay in power long enough for his government to pass emergency deficit-slashing legislation before a spring election.
Cowen gained office in 2008 as Ireland's Celtic Tiger economic boom was failing amid fears that Dublin banks could go bankrupt over bad property loans. Cowen insured the banks' global creditors -- a commitment expected to cost taxpayers C50 billion (US$65 billion).
