Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is something the witness may wish to clarify. I have no doubt Mr. Seamus Breen is eminently qualified and doing a fantastic job. The witness stated that Mr. Seamus Breen works for the Attorney General and others and that is fine. While researching for this meeting, it was suggested to me that, from a governance perspective, the ad hocpanel, for want of a better expression, expired once a new procured panel was established and, as Mr. Breen pointed out, it was after that date that Mr. Healy silked up and Mr. Seamus Breen was appointed. In other words, Mr. Seamus Breen was appointed after the procured panel that he was not on was established.

That has been suggested in the course of my research so that is something the witness might like to clarify. If Mr. Breen is not familiar with the dates today he could drop us a note. It might be good to clarify that in terms of everybody's standing and integrity.

To return to the thread we were on regarding thalidomide, my understanding is that 105 cases were assessed in the 1970s. I assume those numbers are correct. Of these, 34 were accepted under whatever criteria were employed by the 1975 board and the other 66 were not accepted. An issue arises with nine of this group of 66 cases. The term "unacknowledged" has been used to describe them. Is that the term we are using?