Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú:

It would obviously depend on the nature of the procurement. We do not want to enter into any non-competitive procurement process. Where we engage an individual to assist in an advisory or investigative task, he or she could ask for an indemnity and we would have to seek the agreement of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. To get it, we would often use clauses about reclaiming elements of the fees paid.

I was asked whether there was an indemnity in the Polymetrika contract and I indicated that there was no absolute indemnity. Issues relating to our expectations of Polymetrika and Polymetrika's expectations of the SEC initially and then the Department were set out. There is a limited potential penalty clause in the contract.