Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Minister for his reply. To be clear, has anyone in the Department, the Central Bank or the NTMA looked at the possibility of the collapse of the euro? Obviously, it is something we would not like to see happen as it would have devastating consequences for the Irish economy. I assume, given the level of debate among many economists throughout the world who do not have a vested interest in those matters who are talking about the potential or the possibility, it is not an issue that is as alien as it was a number of years ago. Has any analysis whatsoever been done in terms of what would happen if such a scenario were to unfold? There has been much talk about Greece and how the European Financial Stability Fund has been structured and some of the flaws within that. It is not talk to the effect that the euro is going to collapse tonight or tomorrow but if such a scenario were to arise it would have devastating consequences for the economy. I hope the Minister for Finance, his officials or someone within the NTMA or the Central Bank is at least looking at all the scenarios and possibilities that could occur regardless of how remote they are. Could the Minister confirm that nobody in the Department, the NTMA or the Central Bank have looked at such a scenario?

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