Mr. Tony O'Brien:

Given the conclusion of the policy process I referenced, the Department, which had been subjected to numerous freedom of information requests, felt there were no longer any grounds on which the audit report, which was in its possession because the HSE had provided it, should not be released under freedom of information. It notified us accordingly that the decision maker had reached that view in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and accordingly proposed to release it on the Friday of that week. We were appearing at the Committee of Public Accounts on the Thursday of that week - I cannot remember the exact date. On foot of an undertaking I had given the Committee of Public Accounts in November 2012, I immediately provided a copy to the Committee of Public Accounts. There was absolutely no sleight intended to this committee by virtue of its provision there, although obviously there was nothing to preclude me from providing it to this committee. I regret any offence that may have been caused; it was entirely unintentional.