Mr. Joe O'Flynn:

Yes. First, they believed that the trips had been arranged and funded by the SKILL programme office, which was run by the HSE. The inquiries we made subsequently of the two individuals found that there was value and merit in the trips. With regard to the nursing programme, for instance, there was much development within nursing and there was reform. It was a trip to London during which current practices there were examined. The person who attended from our organisation was actually involved in the nursing side of the union so it was deemed appropriate.

With regard to the second trip, as I mentioned, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act was being amended at that time. The person who went on that trip, who was actually a health and safety engineer, believed there was value and merit in the trip and also believed that the trip had been organised and funded by the SKILL programme office.