Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

-----and have settled the matter with the aggrieved party, I do not see why I should listen to the usual, predictable calls from the Opposition to remove from office arguably the best, the most efficient and the hardest-working Minister for Defence to serve the country in recent times.

Members of the Opposition are more interested in innuendo and stirring up controversy than in people's political records.

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