Mr. Ciarán Breen:

We had no idea about the added complexities when we received the original case. We got the case in February and it was settled in April. Many things unfolded as the case went on. The facts were bad at the beginning of the case, and of grave consequence for Ms Phelan, but it was not until later that we understood the significance of that case in terms of its sensitivity for other women in particular. I want the committee to understand that while the State Claims Agency was conducting Ms Phelan's case, its understanding was that all the women affected by the audit had been told. We had no other impression but that they had been told.