It was a lengthy document stuffed with worthy verbiage . . . but it didn't seem to contain a single figure.

The woolly-headed treehuggers of that era had managed to draw up a national budget without those annoying little things that inconveniently keep reminding us of reality . . . numbers.

Numbers are even more important these days as spindoctors get ever more proficient at distorting words.

As the great Hollywood producer Sam Spiegal once said, "Numbers don't lie".

But they are often ignored, suppressed or decried because the truth is usually complex, challenging and inconvenient.

The indebted avoid opening bank statements because they force them to face up to reality.

Tribunals reveal exactly what was going on by poking into bank accounts for numbers . . . not words tainted by spin, spoof and downright deceit.

Numbers tell a different story to Fianna Fail's triumphalist spin on its "stunning" election victory . . . and indeed the party's long-term performance.

Number of seats lost:

three. Number of coalition partners now needed to form a government: two (plus independents. ) Number needed the last time around:

One (and no independents).

Number needed throughout the party's history: None whatsoever.

The numbers also show how the Greens have become a hard-headed bunch of pragmatists since the aforementioned days when they drew up gudgets without using figures.

On Wednesday, 86% of party members voted to do "a deal with the devil" (as one of their TDs referred to their new coalition partner) because it was the only way to get their policies implemented.

And they gracefully accepted that, proportionally, Fianna Fail deserves a bigger say . . . because that's what the people showed with the number of votes cast in the election.

In wooing the Greens, Fianna Fail, pragmatic to the bone, recognised that the time for Green policies has come . . . because the numbers stack up. They have not just become palatable, they are increasingly necessary, and even financially beneficial.

Global warming is no longer a scare story . . . it is a numerical fact. Under Kyoto, we'll have to cough up more in penalties the more we clog the atmosphere.

And it's becoming increasingly clear that the way we live has got to change as the world runs out of oil.

Despite giant strides in technology, the amount of oil being discovered every year is down to its lowest in 40 years. Meanwhile the rate at which we burn the stuff is accelerating faster than a fuel-guzzling E-Type Jaguar pulling away from the lights.

When the world economy matures, we'll need 450 million barrels a day, five times more than today.

At that rate the oil-wells would run completely dry in seven years.

The numbers that show us this are the ones clicking up to ever-increasing sums at the pumps The price of oil today is $66 a barrel. By the end of the year, it's predicted to hit $80.

And then $200 in the nottoo-distant future.

So Green policies on climate change, conservation and renewable energy are no longer seen as the somewhat barmy notions of bearded lentil-eaters in open-toed sandals.

The numbers show that they make a compelling case that's reflected in the bills coming through our letterboxes every day.

The new Green Party can crunch the numbers too and its plans for a carbon tax to penalise gas guzzlers makes perfect sense.

The party also pragmatically promises that its measures will be counterbalanced by tax reductions on measures that encourage people to be nice to the environment.

On the plus side for your pocket, expect even better incentives and grants for energy efficiency in the home, including a 100m state subsidy for insulation (see panel).

However, while the numbers may stack up for the marriage of Fianna Fail and the Greens, how long is such an incompatible union going to last?

One spouse has a sense of integrity that makes him resign over what seems a relatively trivial point of honour as his leads his party into power for the first time with the overwhelming support of his members.

The other fella doesn't even blush as he admits pocketing large sums from business "friends" and then not declaring any tax on the proceeds for more than a decade.

HOW GOING GREEN CAN SAVE YOU MONEY

AIB WILL give customers up to 2,000 when they draw down a mortgage or personal loan to install approved renewable home energy systems.

A wide range of state grants is also available for improving energy efficiency in the home. Check out http: //www. powerofone. ie and www. sei. ie.

However, ironically, it may pay to wait and see whether these will be increased under the new Green regime.

Buying a hybrid or flexi-fuel car that runs on petrol and/or alternative fuel is another option. You will get a reduced VRT deal and AIB will give you 600 in cash if you take out a car loan with the bank to buy one.

However, an article in this month's You and Your Money reveals that the Greens have work to do to make this a more attractive option financially.

"The smallest biofuel engine is 1.8 litres so there is an extra purchase cost as well as additional tax and insurance charges. And if there isn't a filling station near you with E85 (fuel), you will either burn more biofuel to go for your fill-up or use petrol instead, " it reports.

So again, it's probably best to wait and see what the Greens come up with on this front as well before buying one.