David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

If €71.2 million had been paid out to the two organisations, I asked whether Mr. McKeon could give me a breakdown of how much Turas Nua and Seetec got, but he said that that would be difficult to do for reasons of commercial sensitivity. The problem is that each of these organisations can easily work out what the other got. Turas Nua and Seetec will now be aware of the €71.2 million figure. They will also be aware of how many people came through their organisations. Each can divide its part of the €71.2 million by the X number that came through its organisation to figure out what the other organisation got. The answer does not make sense because the organisations know the amount. While I do not know, Turas Nua knows how much it got and how many people passed through its programme. Seetec knows how much it got and how many people passed through its programme. Given that the figures are then obvious, there is no reason for Mr. McKeon not to give us the breakdown. I am only asking for information that they already know. Turas Nua knows how much it got of the overall figure, so Mr. McKeon's statement that he cannot give us the breakdown does not stand up.

In terms of basic accountability, it is wrong that we cannot get the figure. It has no impact on commercial sensitivity. I would not put Mr. McKeon in a position of impacting that sensitivity. Notwithstanding the fact that we have outsourcing so that walls can be erected in order to ensure that we do not get the types of response that we should, and leaving aside my personal concerns about the process, will Mr. McKeon give us the breakdown? What I have said is logical and there is no reason for him not to do so.