The best of Brian
"When in doubt, leave [them] out." –On the Progressive Democrats in 1992.
"I don't need anybody to keep me straight or clean me up. If we are going to have any discussions, it will be on the basis of mutual respect." –In May 2007, the then minister for finance lays it on the line for all- comers during election weekend.
"I haven't read it from cover to cover."– In May 2008, admitting during an RTÉ radio interview that he had not read the Lisbon Treaty. It was rejected for the first time by the electorate the following month.
"There's no controversy about it at all. Actually it was well- supported within the organisation."– Explaining his decision in May 2008 to scrap the FF fundraising tent at the Galway races.
"Bring in those people and get a handle on it. You know, all those f***ers." – Only 15 days in his job as Taoiseach, he was picked up by the Dáil microphones using an expletive when telling Mary Coughlan to call in the National Consumer Agency. His remark came at the end of a Dáil debate about the failure of retailers to pass on savings to Irish shoppers.
"I will not be accused of seeking to commit treason against my country. I consider that to be beyond the Pale."– Responding to an accusation of economic treason from Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore in the Dáil in March 2010.
"Absolutely not. That's ridiculous. It's not true at all . . . Really, that's uncalled for." – Responding to suggestions he was either drunk or hungover during a Morning Ireland interview on September 14th, 2010, after a late night during a Fianna Fáil think-in in Galway.