Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. Miller very much. My final question is for anybody who wants to take it . Mr. Larkin mentioned the sum of €1 billion, which is bound to raise eyebrows around here in Leinster House. The State is looking at a surplus of €11 billion this year and €16 billion next year. Mr. Larkin said €1 billion over seven years would be his target. He would want that administered centrally from the office or Department of the Taoiseach. Would he also then fall in line with Professor O'Shea's view that we need to have a recognisable set of qualifications or a curriculum that is common right across all third level sectors, which would ensure that we were actually training people for cyber? I am being somewhat facetious when I say there are programmes out there such as ancient Greek and Roman studies with cyber, which is not really a cyberprogramme. Anybody who wishes to do so may come in here but I will start with Mr. Larkin. He threw the figure of €1 billion out there. It slipped off his tongue as if it were loose change in his pocket. Maybe he would like to expand on that just a little if he can and anybody else can come in after that.