Fianna Fail will reap as it sowed

A poll this week showed support for Fianna Fail has plummeted to an astonishing 13pc. And that's before the toughest budget in the State's history is unveiled next week.

It is quite extraordinary to think that the task of pushing through the harsh cutbacks and tax increases falls to the most unpopular Government ever.

Budgets have been rejected before for much less punitive measures than are coming our way on Tuesday.

But the Opposition knows that even if it rejects the Budget put forward by Brian Lenihan, something similar will have to be drawn up to satisfy those organisations now bailing out this country.

It is an unprecedented situation that an Opposition may feel it can't bring down such an unpopular Government.

The only thing we can now be sure of is that the days are numbered for the people who led us into this mess.