Ms Geraldine Fitzpatrick:

Not to my understanding, sorry. We have in-house legal advisers. After all our experiences with the Ombudsman we go through things with a fine tooth comb. Our recent experience with the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant is evidence of the seriousness with which the Department takes the law.

We explained clearly to this committee the last time that we found it difficult knowing there were 4,700 people at issue but there was an issue with the equality legislation. It took us a while to come to a resolution about that. We will draft a great deal of legislation over the next few years because of the health reform programme, including bringing in universal health insurance. We will have to put the provision of community services on a new legal basis. All of that will be done carefully with reference to all the lessons we have learned from previous experience with the Ombudsman.