Are these the final days of Brian Cowen's leadership of Fianna Fail? The recent outpouring of backbench unhappiness led to a general resolve to park the issue and return to it after the budget so on the basis of that timetable there could be a contest for the Fianna Fail leadership very soon indeed. But with the party at 13% in the latest opinion poll it will be very difficult for Fianna Fail not to end up as the third largest party in the Dail after the forthcoming general election no matter who is leader (in fact, last week's opinion poll put them in fourth place?)
So what do you think? Can Fianna Fail fight back under a new leader? Do they have a message that they can bring to the electorate early next year? Should Brian Cowen try and hang on ? And if Fianna Fail do suffer permanent electoral damage from the current crisis will that be a positive or a negative thing for Ireland's future? Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin will be on our panel along with Prof Gary Murphy of DCU, Independent Joe Behan (who left the party two years ago over budget cuts) and Irish Times columnist Saray Carey. Let us know what you think by posting your comment below.
*Tonight's show will be pre-recorded an hour early to allow our audience make their way home before the worst of the freeze hits so that means we won't be able to read out email or text comments tonight. Normal service will be resumed next week when the big freeze is (hopefully) over!
