Today at the Merrion Hotel Taoiseach Brian Cowen  announced he is standing down as leader of the ruling Fianna Fail  party but will remain at the head of Government until the March general election.

After more than a week of political turmoil   and  numerous ministerial resignations, Mr Cowen said the election should be fought on policies not a leadership issue.

He  has stepped down as leader of Fianna Fáil

even though just five days ago he won a vote of confidence from his parliamentary party. Mr Cowen said he had taken the decision after it became

clear that internal criticism of his leadership was reflecting negatively on  the party  and was hampering the party from uniting to contest the election on March 11th

"I'm concerned that renewed internal criticism of Fianna Fail is deflecting attention from this important debate," Mr Cowen said.

"Therefore, taking everything into account after discussing the matter with my family I have taken, on my own counsel, the decision to step down."

Cowen said he made the dramatic decision to resign after sitting down with his family last night.

"I have been in touch with no senior party figures in relation to this decision," he said.

Mr Cowen said he spoke to John Gormley, leader of the junior coalition party the Greens, before making the announcement.

He said his resignation will not affect Government business.

"My political assessment is that this is the right thing to do for the party," he said.

"But it's about me directing my attention to the country."

Six ministers resigned, Mr Cowen's Cabinet reshuffle collapsed, the Greens threatened to pull out of Government and ministers claimed a breakdown of communications.

But Mr Cowen claimed he was not looking back.

"I believe that it was my duty to put in place the best possible team we could to fight this election to put them on the front bench and into position," the Taoiseach said.

"It was not a cynical view by me it was a political act."

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny criticised Mr Cowen’s decision to remain as Taoiseach, saying was a “complete contradiction of his stated position less than a week ago”.

Mr Kenny said unless Mr Cowen sought an immediate dissolution of the Dáil, his party would move a motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach next week.