Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Let me go on. In this case, the recommendations were made by officials. They came before the Minister of State, Deputy Griffin, and me for signature. We did not change one comma, one allocation, one place, one position or anything whatsoever, at any stage. This is unique.

The appeals also reached the Ministers and exactly the same thing happened. It was determined that we would not come before a committee and have it said one Minister interfered here and there and that the other interfered in another place. It was to take it out of the political arena and as a result we had a really good scheme. No Minister interfered, made representations or changed a single allocation of a sports capital grant. However, we came under a lot of pressure, as members will be aware. I have in front of me eight representations received from Deputy Robert Troy asking me to interfere.