Mr. Peter Smyth:

That is not what I have been doing. I have tried as far as possible to work with the facts as I can establish them. I have avoided speculating and trying to form opinions, and have tried to work to facts. On that basis, I do not have any facts or information which would lead me to a conclusion that there was canvassing.

What I have said is that the series of meetings, in particular, meetings that did not appear to be necessary in terms of the process, gave cause for concern and they are the reason I was recruited to do the report. They create what I described as an apparent bias and the Minister stepping down effectively negates that apparent bias.

I accept, if one takes the average man-in-the-street's view, the Deputy is asking the question on the basis that something must have happened but I have no evidence stating that something happened. I have no evidence of the Minister trying to engage in the process in favour of Granahan McCourt. That leads me to the conclusion that there was not canvassing.