The cheapest bailout in the world so far. – Minister for finance Brian Lenihan to the Leinster Society of Chartered Accountants lunch in Dublin, October 23rd, 2008, on the government decision to guarantee all bank debt.
Tuesday, 30th September, 2008, will go down as the blackest day in Ireland since the Civil War broke out – Minister for Finance Michael Noonan on how that decision looks, 2½ years on.
The most expensive [banking crisis] in history. – Central Bank governor Patrick Honohan, March 31st, 2011, on the true cost – €70 billion – of bailing out the banks.
The standard used in the stress tests was a very severe one . . . I don't believe the economy is in for as rough a ride as that. If we are, God help us all. – Fianna Fáil finance spokesman Brian Lenihan.
The taxpayers, the working people and the poor in this country are going to continue to pay the bad gambling debts of the major European banks. – Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins.
Joan! Why is there no outcry. Who has gagged ya? – Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty taunts Labour's Joan Burton.