Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I did not say that. What I said was the national debt increased on average by €14 billion to €15 billion a year for ten years. It went from €40 billion to €210 billion, but the reason was to keep the country trading.

Whether Deputy Pearse Doherty believes it or not, the first question I am asked on every occasion I meet financial service companies is the threshold at which people pay the higher rate of tax. It does not matter whether the Deputy believes it. I am telling him it is the first question on every occasion.

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