Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate that. I am not saying it is possible for departmental officials to go off in a particular direction without a direction from the Minister. The point is that a discrepancy would have become apparent to departmental officials that could have been brought to the attention of the Minister. It would have been then have been a matter for the Minister to address it in whatever manner he or she saw fit.