Eoghan Harris (Independent)

The question is whether we have confidence in the Taoiseach to carry us through this recession. There are many answers. My answer is "Yes, I do". He is a humble man. One could say he has much to be humble about. He has questions to answer and he has made mistakes. However, based on the homoeopathic principle that those who make mistakes are probably the best to clear them up, he has shown diligence and attention to duty. He has shown courage. He has taken the hardest decision of all; he took on the public sector. Courage is what we need. Words are not what we need. He could have waffled. He could have come in and given us public relations bromides or he could have done what the spin doctors wanted. However, he simply did his duty. It has damaged Fianna Fáil. It has probably put Fianna Fáil on the ropes, but he did it. That amounts to acting with good authority and that is what a good Taoiseach does. He will go down in history as a brave man.