The opposition is stepping up its pressure on the government to call an immediate general election.

Fine Gael has renewed its call for the government to step down, saying that the four-year plan needs to be put forward by those with a proper mandate from the people, the Irish Times reports.

Fine Gael enterprise spokesman Richard Bruton said that only a newly elected administration should be responsible for devising a budget for the country. He said that it was in Ireland’s best interests that any negotiation about the plan should be undertaken by a government that is facing the prospect of a four year term “so that it has the authority and the credibility to not only develop and negotiate it but to implement it”.

Fine Gael deputy leader James Reilly said his party would have to see the budget before giving it support.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party has indicated that it would not support the budget and also condemned the idea of putting off a general election until January, saying that a snap election would put a new government in a stronger position for negotiations with the IMF and Europe.

Gilmore said that he would not allow the IMF to “roll over” a new administration.

After the Green Party announced that it would leave government in January, Taoiseach Brian Cowen announced plans to dissolve the Dáil in the new year.

Fine Gael, Labour, Sinn Féin and the Socialist Party have all called for a general election. Two of the three independent TDs on which the government relies for support have indicated that they may not pass the upcoming budget.

Kerry South TD Jackie Healy-Rae said recent behaviour by the government has “totally undermined whatever little bit of confidence” he previously had in its leadership, while North Tipperary TD Michael Lowry told reporters that it was “highly unlikely” that he would support the budget.

However, in a meeting with Irish MEPs in Strasbourg today EU Commissioner Olli Rehn said that it is “essential” for Ireland to pass the budget in the timeline foreseen and that this should be done “sooner rather than later”.