Mr. Tony O'Brien:

I set out, in my opening statement, the information that I obtained from meeting the principals involved which included the two individuals - the one who made the phone call to Grace's mother and the other who met Grace. I also saw the correspondence. I should say, at the outset, that I was not happy with the nature of the apology at all in relation to the 44 letters that went out, which is why I have subsequently issued a much more appropriate apology myself and there is a copy of that attached to the opening statement. That is the first thing to say.

In relation to the miscommunication, misunderstanding, mis-interpretation or whatever we care to call it, I have spoken to all of the parties involved, including those two. Having looked at the whites of their eyes and sat down with them for over two and half hours, I am satisfied that there was a miscommunication and that there was no intention to mislead. I cannot imagine why the people involved - the chief officer, for example, has been working in Ireland for about four or five months, having been in Australia for a long time. The two individuals concerned, I cannot imagine why they would wish or have any motivation to concoct a story in relation to this apology given that the three of those, and those to whom they sent that information, but the three of those had no hand, act or part in the previous substantive issues that we are talking about. I do not see any motivation there either to misunderstand or mislead and I accept their bona fides.I agree that the net effect is that an incorrect story was told and this committee was given incorrect information and, again, I apologise for that.