Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

Is cúis áthais domsa mar Aire, mar Theachta Dála agus mar bhall bhródúil de Fhianna Fáil, an deis seo a thapú, labhairt ar son an rúin seo. Since his election as Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen has shown the backbone, conviction and courage that are the hallmarks of strong leadership in times of difficulty. For the past 18 months, the Taoiseach has led the Government that has taken tough and painful decisions in order to secure the future economic well-being of our country. In a time of great financial upheaval, when to falter would have been to fail and when to waver would have had dire consequences for Ireland, he stood his ground and the Government stood its ground. We made hard and necessary choices and when others questioned their judgment or lost their nerve, we stood by our decisions. As we take our first steps on the road to economic recovery, we can be thankful the Government showed such resolve, that we held our nerve and that we made those difficult decisions in such difficult circumstances and at the right time.

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