Crisis takes toll on Taoiseach

The pressure of the political and economic crisis facing Ireland was etched across the face of a drained-looking Taoiseach as he took questions in the Dáil tonight.

Brian Cowen appeared demoralised as he faced Leaders’ Questions from the main opposition parties, rarely raising his eyes to take on his political opponents.

Fine Gael and Labour, while not meek in their grilling of the beleaguered leader, appeared to go easy and adopted a softer tone for fear hard-line, all-out attack would kick a man already down.

Leaders’ Questions, held twice a week in Leinster House, is normally a formulaic affair opened by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.

The Taoiseach responds, followed by a supplementary by Mr Kenny and normally a final riposte by Mr Cowen.

Then it’s the turn of the Labour Party turn in a similar tit-for-tat between leader Eamon Gilmore and the Taoiseach.

The Dáil often explodes in fiery moments, with Mr Cowen’s bulldog style and goading evidently leaving the Opposition irate from time-to-time.

The Taoiseach‘s quick-fire jibes are more often than not backed up by sometimes inappropriate heckling from the backbenches or irreverent remarks from his front bench.

After a particularly rowdy back-and-forth in the chamber in May 2008 Mr Cowen leaned to his deputy Mary Coughlan and used the word “f******”.

Unfortunately for him the outburst was picked up on microphone.

And last December, Green TD Paul Gogarty made international headlines after he turned his anger on a Labour opponent and shouted “F*** you”, after the latter questioned his sincerity.

Just last week the Dáil was suspended twice amid rowdy scenes when one Opposition TD refused to withdraw a remark made in the chamber.

But today – the first Leaders Questions since the Government asked for an International Monetary Fund/European Commission bailout – was an unusually subdued affair.

Leaning over and with his hands resting on the table below him, the Taoiseach’s voice remained relatively quiet throughout the 30 minute sitting.

The backbenches were also silent, sombre.

Perhaps conscious the eyes of the world were on the country and respect between rivals, Mr Cowen thanked his opponents for conducting a calm discussion.