I certainly believe that improving our intelligence is of important national interest.

All soldiers who serve their country and put their lives at risk need to know that if something happens to them, their families will be well taken care of. That's the bond we have with our military men and women and their families.

At a time when this country needs a good military, the last thing we need to be doing is turning out of our military of people who served and then bringing in people who are illegally in the country.

You pay a price when you have an objective sentencing system. That is, nothing is perfect.

To be an effective leader, you have to have a manipulative streak - you have to figure out the people working for you and give each tasks that will take advantage of his strength.

I always liked the idea of leadership and being a captain.

International politics is no longer a zero-sum game but a multi-dimensional arena where cooperation and competition often occur simultaneously. Gone is the age of blood feuds. World leaders are expected to lead in turning threats into opportunities.

As leader of the Fine Gael Party, I will also use our position in the European People's Party to clearly state our views with our European political partners.