Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I respectfully suggest this is a supplementary question not contemplated by the questions tabled. It is unfair on other Deputies who stick to supplementaries that are relevant to the question for me to answer questions that are not within the purview of the questions tabled. It only encourages people to decide to ask whatever supplementaries they wish regardless of the question being discussed. I do not wish to be discourteous.

I will not enter into speculation on the specifics of the matter, but I will address the general point about the reclassification of the moneys that were provided to Anglo Irish Bank. The markets have factored in that this is a once-off payment to the bank; it is not a recurring item on the accounts of the Government. In other words, this year it increased the deficit, but it is not a recurring part of the deficit. Markets take this into account when they consider our underlying deficit. When the reclassification occurred, it did not have an adverse effect on the Government's status in international bond markets because it was understood for what it was. However the transfer is classified - whether it has the original intended classification or the new one - it obviously adds to the overall debt. The fact that it was reclassified meant it became part of the deficit equation, but it is not a recurring part of the deficit.

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