Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A number of months ago Mr. David McCourt sought to meet me but I refused. I have no power or influence over a tendering process. I have met Mr. McCourt once in the past. I did not see any need to meet him. I felt that, as an elected politician, it was inappropriate for him to meet me at this point in the process. For the life of me, I cannot understand why one Minister with one remaining bidder would have discussions at such an advanced stage of the process. Does Mr. Smyth find that wrong? Does he believe that the meeting had the potential to compromise the whole process?