Mr. Mark Griffin:

That is a really important point. When one tries to make a cost benefit analysis for a piece of infrastructure, in respect of which one is looking forward over a 25 year period and in a sector where the transformation is so dramatic, it is very hard to apply the normal rules of play, as set out in the public spending code. In the cost benefit analysis we have set out a range of quantitative benefits that are aligned perfectly with the public spending code, but we have also looked at a range of elements that are not easily quantifiable such as education, e-commerce and e-health, which involves a more qualitative assessment. In fairness to the Taoiseach, when he was at the committee, he referred to the fact that when one built this kind of future-proofed network, one could not rely solely on the typical things that applied to a bog standard - my term - cost benefit analysis.