Charlie McCreevy (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

We are not always wrong in the Department of Finance. Senator Mansergh pointed out that the idea that Secretaries General try to cosy up to Ministers is daft. Anyone who knows any Secretaries General will know that politicians will come and go but the Civil Service goes on forever. If one has been a Minister for as long as I have, one will appreciate this. Senator Mansergh has also been a civil servant and an adviser to the Government in a political capacity and he knows that well too.

In 1992, the Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government had fallen out. We had a general election and it looked like we were going to be out of power. Seán Duignan reflected in his book that there was a little drawing back, until it became clear Fianna Fáil was going back into Government with Senator McDowell's party. I have noted this scenario in dealing with civil servants.