Mr. Maurice Mullen:

It was for Fisher Associates to address those challenges. I was clearly aware of what was being said and I met Fisher Associates at that stage. This is not the end of the process per se. Within the Civil Service we are expected to have a robust system of exchange while policy is being developed. It is useful that we are discussing these issues prior to the conclusion of the policy process but members are seeing the sort of robust exchanges that take place both within Departments and between them as we develop robust strategies and policies that can be presented to Ministers. We have to shake proposals vigorously to see what they contain. This is why we have not yet completed the process and we are neither including nor excluding any issues at this stage. I can only give that assurance for the umpteenth time. It will also be an open process with the Minister in respect of what he accepts or otherwise. Like all Ministers, he is an independent individual and will inform himself about where he wants to go. That will be part and parcel of the process.