The cost to print the initial batch of 30, 000 cards was covered by a local business, Investors Bank.

FORBES: Shop Till Your Taxes Drop

The yield on long-term (10-year) government debt hasn't really fallen since the last batch of QE was announced in October, but since July 2011 the government's cost of borrowing has fallen by around 1 percentage point, from just over 3% to just over 2%.

BBC: Quantitatively more easing from the Bank

That is the discussion taking place right now, although the cost of a new and improved Metop system means the future satellites and their instruments will again be a batch-buy.

BBC: When 'state of the art' is also years old