Dr. Ambrose McLoughlin:

That would be unnecessary and would not be good practice. I am sorry my reputation has been questioned. I am a public servant with some considerable decades of service to this State in all and every kind of circumstance and I reject absolutely that I would ever attend and mislead a committee of the Oireachtas. It is simply not what I do. However, I emphasise that I was very clear that we were in a very serious situation. The record will show my Department has spent a great deal of time trying to find a solution to this. We have been open and frank about the difficulties associated with finding a solution. I know we will have the complete support of the Disability Federation of Ireland and other bodies in seeking and finding a solution which will meet the needs of the clients who need motorised transport arrangements and support in terms of their mobility. We are very conscious of this. My Department is deeply and genuinely concerned. Again, I want to make it absolutely clear to the committee that no solution or decision was made in regard to this matter.

The other point is that the matter had to be put to the Government. I am not in a position to change the rules on how decisions are made in a democracy.