I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.
The estimated annual cost of servicing the national debt outstanding at 31 December 1980 is £882 million. The national debt in currencies other than Irish pounds at the same date was approximately £2,200 million using current exchange rates. Exchange rate movements from the date of borrowing account for approximately £18 million of the annual interest cost.
The external debt in currencies other than the pound sterling at 31 December 1980 was approximately £2,156 million using current exchange rates. The estimated cost in 1981 of servicing this amount is £215 million. In addition, external debt in the form of holdings by non-residents of Government securities denominated in Irish pounds amounted to approximately £445 million at 31 December 1980 and the estimated cost of servicing this in 1981 is £46 million.