Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for his questions. I do not think it would be fair of me to get into the detail about any individual. There was, as the Senator said, an acting Secretary General within the Department who worked very closely with the Minister at the time, which was one of huge pressure and challenge. It was listed as one of the four options set out in the minutes of that meeting. The Senator can see where the discussion took us and what it led to by way of the conclusion that was reached. I do not want to get into detail about that individual, who is a serving civil servant, just to say that the decision that was reached followed a lengthy discussion on the issue.