Tom Shehan (Fine Gael)

I appreciate, however, that we must stay in the game. After all, where would we be without EFSF funding and the European Union? The Government's preferred option is to re-enter the bond markets in the second half of 2013. While no one is willing to say this, the alternative to re-entering the bond markets is to seek a second bailout. If funding is available to Ireland at an interest rate of 1%, even on condition that we obtain a second bailout, why would we contemplate returning to the markets where we may have to pay interest of 4% or 5% to borrow money? I seek clarity on this matter.