Mr. Owen Keegan:

On the first point, the reality is that I brought a report to the local authority members and I gave them a lot of information, particularly on the waste market. I commissioned a cost-benefit study which I gave to them and I gave them a detailed briefing on the project agreement. It was considered by the local authority members. It is fair to say a motion was put down, which was carried, advising me not to go ahead but that does not mean the matter was not considered.

It was a decision of the Oireachtas, not of me as chief executive, that the power should be mine and other managers'. Given that such power was given to me, I felt it was appropriate that I should make what I regarded as the best decision having considered all the information available to me. That was a decision of the Oireachtas. I have complied with that. I have fully complied with the process that was laid down.

I would prefer if every local authority elected member had supported the project, but that was not the case. I can understand. There have been a lot of difficulties associated with this project historically and I can understand why members are unhappy about various aspects of it, but at the end of the day it was considered by the elected members who got a detailed briefing. That does not take away from the fact that I would have made the decision with my colleague chief executives to proceed with the project. I will ask Mr. Nolan and Mr. Phillips to deal with some of the other points.