John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Okay. My next question relates to the State pathology laboratory. The Accounting Officer in that case told us they were going to build a State pathology laboratory, but they could not commit the money over the years - although they had spent €3.3 million on it - and they knocked it. I would like to know what process is followed in the Department to allow such a decision to be made. Would the Accounting Officer have to go back to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for sanction? Would the Accounting Officer simply make a judgment call that the best thing to do is to knock it because no more money is available? Is it within the Department's remit to make that decision and thereby write off €3.3 million of taxpayers' money?