Fiona O'Malley (Independent)

I am glad to express my confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government. The current problems facing them are the hardest any Government has had to face. The Taoiseach has shown great leadership, calm judgment and the ability to say, "No". These are the qualities we need now. In the long term he will be remembered for doing the right thing. Mistakes were made but the Taoiseach is concerned about how we can solve them for the next generation. He is taking difficult decisions which hurt people and mean the Government is taking a hit in its popularity ratings in the polls. The Government's term is for five years, for which period it is entitled to govern and then ask for the people's judgment on its work. At least, the Government will have stood for something and not governed with hindsight which is what the Labour party would do.