Marian Harkin

Good morning, Clare, to all your listeners.

No, I didn't.

There were straws in the wind.

I mean, obviously, we heard what Danny had said two days beforehand about the need for change of leadership of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

I mean, that was a very strong statement.

And of course, as you know, Danny and Michael had a separate arrangement.

They weren't part of our group.

I was part of the negotiations for the independent group.

There were three of us negotiated on the programme for government.

And it was only when that was complete, I knew Danny and Michael were in it, out to speak to the Taoiseach.

But when that was complete, then we realised that, I think, as I'm not sure, was it Danny or Michael said, they were the fourth leg of the stool.

Oh, yes, they were.

I mean, I worked with Michael.

Michael was a great colleague.

I sat beside him in the Dáil, a really hardworking minister.

And, you know, in that context, I am genuinely sorry to see him go.

I think he was a real addition to government, but they had a separate deal, nothing to do with independence, the rest of us, but...

We worked together and we worked well together.

Look, Clare, you have to understand that Michael is a colleague and I will let Michael speak for himself and I'll let people make their own judgment.

Every one of us yesterday had decisions to make.