Dr. Ambrose McLoughlin:

I can only deal with the period prior to 1 January 2005. From examining the files, I could find no basis for taking any sanction against any official of the Department of Health or the health boards at that time. I cannot find any evidence suggesting that sanctions should be imposed. What I can say is that the system of allocating money, as Mr. O'Brien has said, left much to be desired. This is something from which we need to learn. As the Deputy is aware, the Minister plans to bring the Vote back into the Department of Health from 1 January 2014. Long before I became Secretary General, it was my view that it would have been preferable if the Vote stayed with the Department of Health in 2004. We would certainly have had more continuity. However, that was a political decision that was taken at the time. The Government has now decided to bring the Vote back again from 1 January 2014, subject to legislation being passed by the Oireachtas.