Irish PM resigns as leader of ruling party

    DUBLIN, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Irish（爱尔兰） Prime Minister Brian Cowen announced on Saturday afternoon that he is standing¹ down as leader of the ruling Fianna Fail, but will continue as the prime minister until the March 11 election.
    At a press conference（记者招待会） held in Dublin's Merrion Hotel, Cowen said he had not been in touch with any of his colleagues and that he had made the decision on his own counsel.
    "It is the right thing to do for the party," he told the reporters.
    Asked when he had made his decision, the Irish prime minister said it was only when he went home Friday evening.
    DUBLIN, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen announced on Saturday afternoon that he is standing down as leader of the ruling Fianna Fail, but will continue as the prime minister until the March 11 election.
    At a press conference held in Dublin's Merrion Hotel, Cowen said he had not been in touch with any of his colleagues and that he had made the decision on his own counsel（顾问）.
    "It is the right thing to do for the party," he told the reporters.
    Asked when he had made his decision, the Irish prime minister said it was only when he went home Friday evening.
    He said he discussed the matter with his family and made a political assessment² of the situation that he decided³ to come up and make this announcement.
    Cowen said a united party is in his view the most important thing going into the general election, set for March 11.
    He said he spoke⁴ with Green Party leader John Gormley within the last 40 minutes.
    The Green Party is Fianna Fail's coalition⁵ partner.
    "My decision won't in any way affect government business," he said.
    Cowen said he believes the government will win the confidence vote to be tabled this coming Tuesday by the Labor⁶ party.
    He also said he will decide whether to contest the general election in his home town Laois Offaly after a consultation⁷ within his party.
    At present, Micheal Martin, who resigned as foreign minister on Tuesday, is the most popular successor to Cowen as leader of Fianna Fail.
    Meanwhile, opposition⁸ parties urged Cowen to step down as prime minister.
    "The Taoiseach (prime minister)'s attempt to remain as head of government despite losing the confidence of his own party is another sad example of Fianna Fail putting their own survival ahead of the country's survival," said Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.
    The opposition leader said Cowen should go to Aras an Uachtarain (official residence of the Irish president) to seek the dissolution of the Dail (lower house of parliament) immediately.
    "If he refuses to do so, Fine Gael will move a motion of no confidence in Brian Cowen as Taoiseach in the Dail on Tuesday."(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

6 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

7 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

8 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。