Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I believe most people following this story are mystified from start to finish and that was the case even before this meeting began. The rationale for making Bord Gáis Éireann the parent company for this new public utility was on the basis of the expertise, standing and so on of that organisation as an established and highly successful utility. Mr. Tierney gave a rationale for the use of these services or this consultancy expertise and cited the writing of programmes. If I have understood him correctly, he has characterised these not so much as expenditure but as investment in assets - almost like a capital item - and I will return to that at the moment. Members do not have the opportunity, because time does not permit, to go through each of the work lots but I draw his attention to what I believe to be lot No. 4, although I could be wrong. It deals with the issue of customer engagement and brand development and I understand that Ernst & Young were contracted in for the princely sum of more than €4 million to do I am not sure what, in respect of customer engagement and brand development. I certainly would like Mr. Tierney to enlighten me as to what was that particular piece of work.