Mr. Charlie McCreevy:

Of course it was because we had an infrastructural deficit in places such as private nursing homes, all these others areas which I mentioned, and it stimulated the economy and yes, there was a cost, as there would be. And as I said, the greater the take-up, the greater it would have been the cost. But the greater the benefit there was as well. There comes a time, Deputy, unquestionably I agree with you, there comes a time, as we had a debate earlier with Deputy O'Donnell, when you have to cut off these particular reliefs and say, "Well, we've done enough now at this area, so it can get on by itself." And there is a debate, and you can have an argument about whether you should do it, whether it's too late or whatever. I accept that as a kind of general kind of point. But that is a point of view and you must take an opinion at a particular time and a view at a particular time when it is time to close them off.