Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Let me get something clear, and the witnesses are not to blame for this. After 2008 there was a moratorium on staff and, in looking at excess expenditure in the public service, we cut down extensively on money being spent on direct staff. We gave more money to the private sector, which became the subject of examination at various committees. There were serious questions on procurement and how payments were made and monitored and we ended up costing the taxpayer more. Is that fair to say?