Independent TD Michael Lowry tonight said he would not continue to support the Government if Brian Cowen was replaced as Taoiseach.
In a statement, Mr Lowry it would be unfair and undemocratic of the Fianna Fáil to expect the Dáil to change Taoiseach three times in the lifespan of one term of Government.
"There should only be a change of Taoiseach after the public have the opportunity to vote in a General Election," he said.
Earlier, fellow Independent Jackie Healy Rae also said he would not support the Government if Mr Cowen was to be replaced. He said he would not support "the new fellow".
"The position is I'd prefer to have Cowen there. A slip up on radio is no very serious matter," Mr Healy-Rae said when contacted this morning.
A former director of elections for Fianna Fail in Kerry South, Mr Healy-Rae also said he and Mr Lowry had made their deal with Bertie Ahern initially and Mr Cowen had honoured that.
"Forget about it (a change of leader) until there is a general election. .. I'd find it very difficult to deal with someone else," Mr Healy-Rae said.
Mr Lowry also called for a national approach to the upcoming budget.
"The level of public confidence in political establishment is dangerously low," he said.
"It is time to put country before party politics. We need to focus our attention and expertise on giving leadership, restoring confidence, chartering a way forward and giving hope to a disillusioned public.
"If we do not act in a co-coordinated and cohesive manner, outside agencies will dictate and impose a course of action on us."
