Mr. Eugene Sheehy:

First of all, the decision to pay the increased internal dividend was not taken on 26 September 2008. The dividend was paid on 26 September 2008. The decision to pay the dividend was taken in July 2008, for the half year ended June 2008. This is two months prior to Lehman's and the general collapse of the markets. In addition, the question implies that the dividend was ... extra dividend was €270 million. The dividend ... the interim dividend is always smaller than the final dividend. Generally it is a kind of two thirds, one third split. Our interim dividend for the previous half year, June 2006 was 27.2 cent per share. We have 878 million shares, that was increased by 2.8 cent per share, a total cost of €24.58 million. So the €270 million that was paid on 29 September, approved in July, was made up of €270 million, of which €24 million was the increase.

Why did we make that decision? First of all, if the decision was being made in September, no dividend would have been paid. In the post-Lehman's world, no dividend would have been paid. All bets were off at that stage. So when we declared a dividend, communicated it to market ... that notice is filed on the Stock Exchange. It is now a mandatory, contractual obligation to pay the dividend, so you have no leeway to change your mind after you declare it. It is contracted. Shares are bought on the market, either ex or cum dividend from the date you make the declaration.

We wouldn't have paid the dividend in September, if that was when we were making the decision so that's my answer there.