The Minister for Finance, Mr Quinn, expressing some bewilderment at the scale of Labour's defeat, said the party would definitely be going into Opposition, writes Patrick Smyth in Luxembourg.
Arriving for his final meeting of Finance Ministers, Mr Quinn said it was a time for Labour to "regroup, rebuild and lick our wounds" and try and understand the message the people were giving the party.
He paid tribute to the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, as the "best leader the Labour Party has ever had", insisting he had a mandate to lead the party "into the next century". He was happy to serve as his deputy.