Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

In this particular insular political world, they are entirely untouched by the growing international confidence in this country. The contrast between the views expressed by some speakers opposite and the regular, consistent and persistent commentary made overseas about this country could not be starker.

I begin with the President of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet. He stated a few weeks ago that in the case of Ireland, very very tough decisions had been made by the Government, and rightly so. His colleague on the governing council of the European Central Bank, José Manuel González-Páramo, said: "The Irish measures are very courageous. They are going in the right direction." The French Finance Minister, Christine Lagarde, commended the determination of the Irish people in their response to the crisis. She said that Ireland has set the high standard that the rest of us must follow. Then we have the views the views of the German Minister for European Affairs-----

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