The Chairman of Anglo Irish Bank as said the final figure for the cost of sorting out all the banks may be affected to a degree by future behaviour in the financial markets and trends in the Irish property markets. Alan Dukes' comments come three days after the Government confirmed the cost of sorting out Anglo Irish Bank would be €29 billion, but could go to €34 billion in a worst case scenario.

Speaking on RTE's This Week, Mr Dukes - a former minister for finance - also said the Government should make a number of changes to help cope with its finances, including increased taxation and the immediate introduction of water charges.He said there should a concentrated focus on the Croke Park deal to make savings in the public expenditure and everything in the area of social expenditures should be examined, with the exception of the non-contributory Old Age Pension. Mr Dukes also said the HSE was costing too much, while wasteful public expenditure needed to be ended.