Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

-----it was in terms of dealing with the issues of the moment. The final point made by Senator Bacik which appears to suggest that the alternatives currently are to choose between an adjustment of €6 billion or an adjustment of €4.5 billion, conveniently overlooks the fact that there are two options available to the State at this time. There is the €6 billion alternative which enables us to access the European and IMF funding and the €18 billion alternative which is the only other alternative currently available, of living within the means of the moment. That means living on the income available from taxation at this time, which is approximately €32 billion, implying an immediate reduction of €18 billion. Those are the options that are currently available.