Mr. Peter Welch:

Senator Richmond asked whether it was possible to work out not just the annual situation in terms of net contributions from Ireland, but the cumulative position. I am sure it is, but we could not give a figure right now. In general, the Commission publishes its interpretation of the net balance for each member state and it is possible to go through the reports for a number of years to come up with those figures. Speaking as a British citizen at this moment, it should be borne in mind that working out the net contribution and working out the benefits and costs of being a member of the Union are not quite the same thing. There are lots of benefits which are not budgetary.