Mr. Jim Keogan:

The Chairman's first question was whether we take into account the content of a fraudulent submission. The point we are making here is that it is not necessarily the volume of submissions that is relevant when it comes to the evaluation assessment of a particular proposal but the actual issue that is raised. Consequently, whether there is one, 15 or 500 submissions is not the issue but whether or not the content of what is being raised is material to the assessment. When we made the decision in this case we were aware there were 12 fraudulent or suspect submissions and we alerted the Garda to that fact. It has transpired from the investigation that is being carried out into the submissions that 64% of those examined would appear not be in any way bogus. The opinion of the law agent which we thereafter sought was that the decision was sound and the integrity of that decision was also sound. There has as yet been no challenge to that decision as to whether or not we erred in law in making it.