John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Nash is referring to the final paragraph in the e-mail. The concern that I had in writing this e-mail was that in my previous life in business, if somebody asked me a question such as "Can I do X or Y?", I would probably answer them directly. "No, you cannot," or "Tell me why I should let you do X or Y." In this instance the simple question was posed and it resulted in all of these e-mails, which were not addressed to me but to each of the officials. They were pondering on this issue and starting their e-mails with the "I am given to understand that the Minister may be contemplating bringing...". They were discussing a request. When I responded on 29 August 2007, it may have been a poorly presented argument in a poorly presented e-mail. As I have said already, it may have been written in anger or frustration. I was not getting things done. There was pressure building up in terms of delivery from policy on the Department side. I was stuck without an office, without the appropriate staff, without many of the necessary things to function. That is where some of the commentary came from.

Deputy Nash also raised the efficiency of the Civil Service. Right across the Civil Service there is no doubt that one meets good and efficient people but when I see people working with ancient regulations and in some cases poor work practices, one tries to articulate an argument around change and efficiencies and so on.