Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The exercise in preparation for this Bill is an exercise in risk assessment and working out what Ireland's possible exposure is. I would stress that the Bill covers the interest subsidy. Ireland's share of it is capped, by the EU and in this Bill, at €63.625 million. Any potential exposure much later would come via the EU budget contributions, which are covered by the European Communities Act. All of the documents in preparation for this Bill encompass the State's liability now. I cannot tell the Deputy what the risk assessment is for events that have not been and cannot be foreseen yet for the broader contribution over time but this exercise is trying to work out what the State's possible exposure is.