The Irish government's chief whip says the foreign minister's decision to vote against PM Brian Cowen in a confidence vote is not backed by colleagues.
"I haven't heard of any other minister backing [Foreign Minister] Micheal Martin at this time," John Curran has told Irish broadcaster RTE.
Mr Martin has said that a new leader is necessary before a general election.
Brian Cowen has decided not to step down but has offered colleagues a secret confidence ballot on Tuesday.
The taoiseach, who is also facing an opposition motion of no confidence in parliament, has come under pressure because of revelations of a 2008 meeting with the head of Anglo Irish Bank shortly before he announced a multi-billion euro bank guarantee.
Former Anglo Irish chairman Sean FitzPatrick is still subject to official scrutiny over his role in the bank's collapse and has previously been questioned by police.
Mr Cowen, who came to power in 2008, has denied discussing bank matters at the golf course, insisting he had not done political favours for any financial institution.
His position has come under political pressure since the Irish Republic was forced to seek a bail-out by the EU and IMF late last year. BBC News
