As Senator Higgins previously outlined, we are facing into a deficit of €4 billion based on current figures. It could be much more or perhaps less by the time the Minister announces his budget. These figures do not include the benchmarking tranche due next year. It is astonishing to find ourselves in this position of facing a €4 billion deficit when we had a €5 billion surplus a few years ago. This is the crucial factor. Can the country afford this deal as it stands? Fine Gael does not propose that benchmarking be abandoned but that it be re-negotiated. That would be the right course to take.