Mr. Jim Breslin:

I think all of us had extensive engagement with the IHCA throughout this period. I remember walking up and down my kitchen on a Sunday morning talking extensively to the general secretary of the IHCA. Throughout weekends and late at night a range of different officials were dealing with the association. We had protracted engagement. We were giving clarifications to them. That does not mean that we were agreeing with the IHCA but there was no lack of engagement from us trying to get to solutions. It is important to recognise that we were working within the policy parameters set by Government. One of those parameters was that there would be no private practice; it would be public only. There would be no private fee arrangements over this period. When the IHCA were looking for a type-B contract, they would have understood, though it may not be commonly known, that such a contract would have entitled them to private fees for treating patients. That was contrary to the mandate we had been given and to the heads of terms that had been concluded with the Private Hospitals Association.