Crunching numbers — only the banks win

REGARDLESS of yesterday’s hairshirt budget, here are a few fiscal indicators to grab you by the collar:

1. If mighty America needed first-aid of $700 billion, why did little Ireland have to undergo major surgery of €400bn?

2. The census of 2006 counted 4.2 million of us. If the Government found €400bn for the banks, it could conjure up another €400bn for us. We would each get about €95,000.