Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not want to harp on about the fiery start to this meeting but, given that both gentlemen are new to their jobs, I hope that their statements "pleading the fifth", to use the term, do not represent the manner in which they will proceed in interaction with Oireachtas committees. It would be a backward step to do so. When Mr. O'Brien's predecessor, Mr. Magee, appeared before the committee, he was always fully frank in whatever he had to tell us. There was never any conflict or controversy when matters strayed into policy. There was no sense of concealment of information and I would like to think both of the witnesses will approach the interaction with the committee in that spirit.

An overrun in August of €320 million has increased to €374 million and it is reasonable to say that, all things being equal and projecting on the basis of the status quo, towards the end of the year the budgetary overrun, in real terms, will be €509 million. Is that the case?