Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)

I refer to debt sustainability. The Minister stated we could arrive at a position in which the State's debt could become unsustainable and the programme for Government mentions a danger of this burden becoming unsustainable. Therefore, this is the position of the Government, not mine. I believe we have already reached that point, as do many other economists and, indeed, the bond markets. Last week saw the highest rates for ten-year bonds, at 9.75%. They continue to rise and, unfortunately, will hit the 10% mark very soon because of the Government's policy.

The Minister stated it was hard to say whether this would happen next week, next month or next year. Surely to God the Minister for Finance's Department must have some kind of analysis that will tell him that if Ireland takes on additional debt burden it will become unsustainable. Let him not tell me that he, as Minister for Finance, is walking us through the dark of the night towards the big iceberg in front of us and that when we finally hit it he will turn around and say, "By the way, folks, our debt now is unsustainable".

What projections have been made in the Department that led the programme for Government to state a time would come when debt unsustainability might become a factor? The Minister announced that to RTE in Brussels. Is the additional amount to be put into the banks €10 billion? Is it €2 billion or €100 billion? I ask the Minister to tell us the honest to God facts, the truth. That is what he argued on this side of the House and the Taoiseach said he would be honest with the people. What is the level in question? Will we have to put in additional money if the stress tests show it is unsustainable to do so at this point? That is my first supplementary question.

The second question relates to the stress test.

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