In 1997, it cost the Government less than €17 billion to run the country. Today it is costing €32 billion, an increase of almost 100%. We must look at value for money, including the margin of return on every euro spent from now on. There appear to be two views among media commentators and Opposition politicians in regard to the state of the public finances: one view is that the rate of growth in public expenditure has been far too high and should be brought under control and the other is that the rate of growth in public spending is too low and should currently be much greater. The first criticism has been levelled constantly at the Government since the general election, and even prior to that. The second criticism has been levelled at it since the publication of the Book of Estimates. Both positions cannot be correct.