Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I had indicated I wished to speak. I agree with what is being said about the background. It cannot be dismissed as a draft report that cannot be circulated. It became an issue because of the issues surrounding it. The point was being made by the service provider that funding had been reduced. That was its consistent point to this committee and the previous one. In response to that and in response to pressure from the Committee of Public Accounts, it was agreed that an independent report would be produced. With regard to that independent report, Deputy Murphy has made the point that the word "imminent" took on a new meaning. Imminent does not mean a year or longer. The interchanges between the parties and the person procuring the report are of great interest. That is why we asked for the correspondence but we have not received it. I agree that if we are going to be very critical of one Department it has to be done across the board when the same issues arise. There is a statement somewhere that the final report was agreed by both parties. One of the parties did not see the final report. It is something for that party to follow up on but it would seem it did not see the final report. I do not know if it is usual to see the final report. I agree with Deputy Cullinane that it has to go back and then we will look at it in a more nuanced way.