Mr. Seamus McCarthy:

I do not know the case and have not come across it but the expectation, as I understand it, with public procurement is that each of the parties entering into a contract is responsible for its own activities, oversight, management and so on. If there are weaknesses on the State side, it is not the fault of the contractor that puts in for tender. If it wins in conciliation or in a court case, it is legally entitled to that and cannot be prevented from future work. It has done everything, as it sees it, legally and properly. The onus then is on public bodies contracting to make sure that their systems are tight and close, that decisions are made in a timely way and that processes are followed. That is the side we really need to focus on.