The Labour Party tonight set down an ultimatum for the Government to hold a by-election in the constituency of the late Seamus Brennan early next year.
Leader Eamon Gilmore demanded the Taoiseach call a poll for the seat in South Dublin that has remained vacant since the ex-Fianna Fáil minister died in July.
At the opening of the Labour Party's special delegate conference in Kilkenny tonight, Mr Gilmore said a change of government was needed to tackle the huge problems faced by the country.
"I have repeatedly asked the Taoiseach to move the writ for the by-election, but he shows no sign of doing so," Mr Gilmore said.
"Last September I warned the Taoiseach that if there was foot-dragging on the part of the Government and any undue delay in holding the by-election, then the Labour Party would be quite prepared to table a motion moving the writ to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Seamus Brennan.
"I am now putting the parties in government on formal notice that unless they act, the Labour Party will move the writ for the by-election when the Dáil resumes after the Christmas recess."
Mr Gilmore said the party had selected Senator Alex White, the leader of the Labour group in the Seanad, as a candidate for the by-election. He unsuccessfully contested the seat in the 2007 General Election.
Mr Gilmore also said the party had never been so well prepared in the selection of candidates for local government and European elections, due to take place in June. Mr Gilmore said the Government had been staggering from crisis to crisis and gaffe to gaffe and it was time for a general election.
"In contesting all those elections we will be emphasising the distinct identity and programme of the Labour Party. We are neither Fianna Fáil nor Fine Gael, but the Labour Party."
He accused Mr Cowen of being out of touch with the mood of the public.
"I would like to see an election now, but I know that Fianna Fáil's instinct will be to cling to power for a long as possible, regardless of the damage it will do the country, while the last thing the Greens want is to have to face the wrath of an angry people."
Mr Gilmore said the situation in Fás had infuriated taxpayers and sapped the morale of public sector workers. He said the controversy surrounding Minister for Health Mary Harney's wash and blow dry had diverted attention from the real issue - the waste of taxpayers' money.
On the subject of health, Mr Gilmore called on Ms Harney to stand down, arguing the party had no confidence in her. "While I have every respect for her as an individual, Mary Harney is now a politician without a party and a minister without a vision. It is time for her to go."
Delegates at the conference will hold debates tomorrow on economic and social issues and the difficulties being caused by the recession and credit shortage. The 1,200 attendees will also hear a speech from the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trades Union, David Begg.
A speech tomorrow night by the party leader Eamon Gilmore will be televised on RTÉ, which will also broadcast two hours of debates from 11am tomorrow.