John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Okay. Can I ask you now in relation to the decision of the Government to appoint Peter Bacon to recommend options for property and developers' loans in that crisis period before the establishment of NAMA? I remember questioning him about it myself when he gave evidence, when I asked him was he procured under the normal procurement process that would apply to such appointments. He said that he wasn't because it was an emergency situation. He also said in his evidence that he was a director of Ballymore Homes for a period of years, I think which ended, I might stand to be corrected, in the summer of 2008 - Ballymore Properties I should say. Considering that that was one of the largest property development companies in the country at the time, is there not potential, at least, for a conflict of interest, that he was now in the role of advising the Government on options in relation to the establishment of NAMA?