So much depends on re-negotiation with Europe

IRELAND’S political leadership has been totally dysfunctional for at least three years. The government was paralysed in the face of the enormity of the banking and economic crises, and communication with the public was abysmal.

The net result was that consumer and business confidence evaporated and consumers and businesses that had been contemplating spending or investment were too fearful and uncertain to follow through. Thankfully, we now have a government with a decisive majority and an apparently large appetite to get on with the task of running the country and digging it out of its hole.

We must hope that it gets on with the job in a decisive way and that it walks the walk rather than just talking the talk. The stakes are too high for anything else.