Mr. Brendan Rodgers:

I wish to answer Deputy Crowe's question on the anti-gay issue as well.

The matter is being investigated by the criminal investigation department, CID. It has asked to be given time, as has the auditor general, in order that it can assemble all the evidence. For example, people have asked what the term "interdicted" means. Interdicted means one loses ones job and one is on suspension with no pay. The investigation team sought to do that when people were in their offices. They believed that if the word got out, people would go off into the bush and they could not be contacted on their mobile telephones. They are doing this in a clear and focused way, incrementally in order that they get all the evidence. This is what we have been told. Two people have been put in jail.

While we wish to see prosecutions brought and people brought to justice, we are keen for it to be done in line with good judicial practice and with free and fair trials. We have no wish to see a rush to judgment. They have put it to us that they wish to do it carefully, clearly and ensure they have the evidence. A total of 17 people have been named in the Auditor General's report. The point about this fraud is that it occurred at a high level. There were passwords and forged signatures involving three Government Departments. It was difficult to detect but once it was detected, it was clear that all the tracks were apparent and all the signatures were there. They have the 17 names and they know who did this. I cannot understand how they thought they could get away with it. They also stole Government of Uganda money as well. Approximately €5 million is gone from the Government of Uganda. They were stealing their Government's money from the Office of the Prime Minister as well, as far as I know. Several audits are under way. As Mr. Gaffey said, the auditor general is carrying out comprehensive work across every Government Ministry, the Peace Recovery and Development Plan and the treasury. This will take six months. There will be a forensic investigation and perhaps things will come out in the wash about other donors as well. There is no evidence at the moment with regard to the politicians. If there was real evidence linking them and there was no follow up subsequently, it would have grave repercussions for our relations. Anyway, there is no evidence and we do not know about any evidence at the moment. Other partner countries-----