asked the Minister for Finance the total estimated cost to the Exchequer of the Central Bank strike.

The preparation of such an estimate would involve costing or estimation of a number of direct and indirect effects. Present information does not permit the quantification of such effects. Any estimate of the overall effect would involve a considerable expenditure of official time.

Will the Minister give us details of some areas of loss as, for example, what was the loss on interest to the Central Bank as a result of the bank strike and will he tell us what was the equivalent estimate of profit to the Bank of Ireland on interest charges?

With regard to the last part of the Deputy's question, I will come to that in a later question today. It would be extremely difficult and it has not yet been possible to work out an estimate of overall cost to the Exchequer.