Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

If I was the last remaining bidder, and the Minister was going to confirm that situation, I would say to him that my answer will be "Yes" but only if the price was right and my terms were met. I find it incredible that anything else would happen in that discussion.

The report continued:

There was a phone call on the 8^thof August on foot of a senior sponsors dialogue meeting held earlier on the same day. The former Minister sent a text message summarising this call to the Secretary General. However, there is no formal minute of this call.

Let me outline what happened. There was one telephone conversation between Deputy Naughten and David McCourt and then Deputy Naughten sent a text detailing what transpired and what business was discussed to the Secretary General. Does Mr. Smyth find that strange? The procurement rules are very clear that a Minister should not meet or have discussions with a bidder, and particularly one remaining bidder, without officials being present. The report states that there was a phone call but we do not know what happened. All we have is the recollection by the former Minister or his version of what happened during that telephone conversation.

I have made a number of telephone calls today but I could not give a verbatim record of what transpired during many of them. I have a fairly good memory but I could not say word for word what happened in those conversations. However, I would recall some of the significant details. Ministers and Deputies are busy people. Does Mr. Smyth believe relating the conversation verbatim to be a precarious, haphazard and unethical way of doing things?