Dr. Geraldine Smith:

I welcome the report from the Comptroller and Auditor General as possibly the final piece of the jigsaw. There has been considerable discussion between HSE's internal audit unit and SIPTU. Essentially the internal audit unit has been trying to get to the bottom of the matter. The key issue arising from the last meeting was accessing the Grant Thornton report, the bank and credit card statements, details of the people who travelled and any other available correspondence so that we could compile a comprehensive account for the committee. We had bits and pieces but these were the missing elements. Our investigation over the last four and a half years has been tough and tortuous, and we have exhausted all avenues. The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General goes a long way towards answering all our questions but perhaps the missing link is the Grant Thornton report. There is probably not a lot more in it but until it is published, questions will remain.