Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

My next question pertains to interest charges and how we are trying to reduce the national debt. We are trying to reduce interest charges over the coming years. When the Minister for Finance was here a few weeks back I pointed out that in the multi-year expenditure plan 2030 prepared by the Government, the interest charge for 2030 was €5.3 billion compared to €3.1 billion in 2024. This is obviously to do with higher interest rates and the refinancing. From reading the NTMA reports the implication is almost as if we are going to be dropping interest payments. The national debt is dropping slowly but surely, and this is very welcome and very good. Does Mr. O'Connor agree with the figure that the interest rate charge up to 2023 will be €5.3 billion versus €3.1 billion last year?