Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I must revert to this point. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was aware the contract was expiring at a particular time. Why did it wait until the expiration of the contract or thereabouts before starting to assemble data to help negotiate the next contract? As the Department knew this, why had it not collected the information it is now collecting six months ago? I mean, why did somebody not do it? I do not know who. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is more involved, through the Office of Government Procurement or whatever, but what appears different to me this time is that this Department is now involved and may not have been involved to such an extent for the previous inquiry agreement. I ask Mr. Barry O'Brien to explain to me the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's involvement in this process. While he will state that policy matters are the responsibility of the Department of Health, his Department probably must be satisfied before negotiations commence. What is the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform doing?