Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman and will be as quick as I can. I thank the witnesses for drawing so many issues to our attention.

On the letter that the HSE sent to the Ombudsman in October 2012 that I mentioned earlier, the HSE speaks of an organised response. I wonder whether Mr. McCabe's organisation knew about that or whether that was the first he had heard that there was an implementation plan to be given and a group put in place to bring consistency and clarity nationally to the operation of the motorised transport scheme.

The Secretary General and his officials have said they - I suppose "fretted" is one of the words that might be appropriate - worried and have been concerned about this for any number of years. How does Mr. McCabe feel on hearing that? Does that make sense to him?

Finally, albeit that it is with enormous difficulty and, Mr. McCabe states, was done at the stroke of a pen, does he accept now that these schemes have not been axed? Does Mr. McCabe still say that the schemes are axed or does he believe that the money is ring-fenced and new schemes will be put in place because the terminology of axing or removing is quite strong? Repeatedly, reassurances have been given that the money is ring-fenced and a new scheme will be put in place. I wonder how he feels after hearing that. I thank them both and thank all who have come and have been so patient this afternoon.