Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No, we get advice from various international organisations periodically. I always take them seriously but I also know that a different skillset is required for a politician managing a Department than for a technical person in the IMF in Washington or in the Commission. It is not all a cut and dried case of something being possible once it is written out in a programme.

One has to bring the people along and continue to have their support before one can do anything effective. I frequently say this to the representatives of the Commission, and I reminded them on several occasions when they visited as part of the troika that there was a practical, political implication for what one does. It must always be measured against the best of advice.