Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

To extend the metaphor, the green officers who have now departed the deck would probably have been on the side of the iceberg. They would have accused the Minister of deliberately destroying one of the great features of nature by driving the Titanic straight into it. These are the problems the Minister faces. It is known by all parties that there is no confidence on the ground in the Taoiseach. Deputies can talk him up or down, he can make great speeches and the Deputies can applaud him all night but it is hard to get confidence back when it is gone. The Minister is in a dangerous situation.

There is no confidence in the banks either.

See this speech in context