Mr. Barry O'Brien:

First, I want to make reference to the recruitment process and draw the Deputy's attention to a letter we previously put on the record that was dated 24 April 2013. It was a letter from the then chairman, Mr. Ham Goulding, to Ms Laverne McGuinness, national director of the HSE, stating: "In accordance with the terms of our Memorandum and Articles of Association we are commencing a recruitment programme to find his replacement." This refers to the CEO. It goes on to state:

We have signed a contract with Amrop Strategis to handle the recruitment on our behalf and they have started the Executive Search process which will be carried out by reference to their contacts and database and by newspaper advertisement. We would like to have the new executive in place by the end of June[.]

The next thing we heard about it in the HSE was when the appointment was then made by way of an internal competition. So, with reference to Deputy Deasy's second question, what we are now saying is what our internal administrator stated in a letter to the committee:

At this stage it is necessary for the CRC to satisfy itself that the payments made/benefits conferred are reasonable and proper (in the context of its memorandum of association) and that any amounts paid were correctly calculated and authorised.
In the event of there being a loss to the CRC (or the Friends and Supporters of the CRC), steps to make good that loss [and deal with other consequential issues] will require to be taken.