Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The obvious question is why the normal process for open recruitment, which would have happened in the second half of last year, was not initiated at that point. Mr. Fraser has clearly outlined how the pieces were being moved around. It is clear to me from what he said and from the correspondence he sent to the committee that a vacancy was arising at a Department that needed a good Secretary General and that would have to be filled quickly because of Covid and the major reforms that will have to happen in the health sector over the coming years. Why did that not happen then?