John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

We have heard figures bandied about. I refer particularly to the figure used by the Shell to Sea campaign, which is Sinn Féin, that €540 billion of gas exists in the Corrib field. The figure for the number of fish taken from Irish stock waters was cited as 50 billion, 60 million or 70 billion. One can take any figure one likes, add ten and multiply by 100. To suggest we can get €1.3 billion savings by targeting the 15,000 public servants who earn more than €100,000 involves taking all of their salary, amounting to €1.5 billion. It is the economics of ruin and it is impossible when someone refuses to see the truth.