Dr. Patrick Prendergast:

We found a way to resolve the issue. We started this promotions process in 2008, before the control framework's formulation. We had a commitment to these staff to bring the promotions process to a conclusion one way or another. These people applied in 2008 and after a rigorous review process which is very difficult to get through, a number of people were identified for promotion. It was more than two years later, in January 2011, before these promotions were made so nothing was done precipitously or wilfully in an attempt to breach the employment control framework.