‘I am not on probation. I am the elected leader of our party’

THE Taoiseach and his Finance Minister produced a highly unorthodox show of unity to try to convince the country and their Fianna Fáil colleagues it was business as usual in Cabinet.

Just seven days after the parliamentary party was about to begin their fateful night of frivolity in Galway, Taoiseach Brian Cowen attempted to finally shut down the worst political hangover in recent history.

To hammer this home, he brought with him Brian Lenihan – the minster the weekend newspapers suggested was poised to take over the Office of the Taoiseach if Mr Cowen resigned.