Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It did. It indicated the benefits from the perspective of the Department of Social Protection. I am asking Mr. Watt about the matter in his very senior capacity. He has described the process as exemplary, but he has not referred to a single problem that arose. He does not refer to the cost involved, but he does tell us the card is the way forward. I am telling him that so far €60 million has been spent and that the 2016 contract provides for an advance payment to be made by the Department of Social Protection in January 2017 of 50% of the outstanding balance. We will be paying in advance. The cost of cards produced in 2017 is to be deducted in full from the advance payment. Should the target of 3 million cards not be reached by the end of 2017, the cost of cards not produced will become payable in full. It is late, but I cannot accept Mr. Watt telling us that the process is exemplary. I ask him to look at that comment. He could not possibly call it exemplary. There is, however, a bigger issue. This started as a social welfare card, but it has changed, at huge cost to the taxpayer and with no business case being made in advance. It has metamorphosed into an identity card without any open discussion being held. but that is not Mr. Watt's fault. Every person in the country must have it to access a passport. Have I lost Mr. Watt somewhere?