Mr. John McKeon:

It takes time to evaluate benefits. For example, I quoted the number of cases on which we have found control savings, and they did not materialise on day one, two or three. Many of them have materialised in the past year or two. One of the reasons given at a previous meeting for the lack of a comprehensive benefits assessment was that this had to be allowed to happen so we could have the experience on which to do an assessment. We are at the point now where it can be done.

Perhaps I can comment on what the Deputy said about the earlier exchange.

I acknowledge the point about the language of collateral damage and if we were to write the report again, which came to 470 pages, we would use different language. It was not meant in the way it has been taken, which would be apparent if it was read in the context of the full report. We were making the point about legality and transparency and we did not see the relevance of bringing the report into the debate at all. We may have made this point clumsily. Part of what was being suggested this morning was that the Department was being deliberately awkward in its response, but that is not the way this Department behaves. We try to be as helpful as possible to people who are carrying out investigations. I do not think it was fair to suggest that the Department was being obstructive or difficult.