Mr. Brian Murphy:

I am saying we had no role whatsoever in project or site selection or budgeting. Our role in advance of the announcement of the stimulus package was to advise our colleagues in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on how it might be financed, the difficulties that could arise in the financial and banking markets and the likelihood of success of a pipeline of projects, irrespective of their individual nature. In other words, we advised on the likely response of the stakeholders in the market - the bidders, contractors and equity providers - to a stimulus package. We had no role whatsoever in determining which Department put in what projects. That is for the sponsoring and sanctioning authorities to do. In regard to our role in PPPs and achieving value for money, if we procure a PPP, we take it over after the policy issues, the budget and public benchmarking issues have been determined and agreed. Only then do we take responsibility as the procuring authority. In regard to primary care centres, we absolutely and definitively played no role.