Mr. Paul Reid:

It was said the committee fully understands the context but it is really important that this is set straight. I saw my procurement team working 24-7 for months on end. We took a risk-based approach. This was not a normal market or environment. I said to the Deputy and other Oireachtas Members at the time that there was no doubt we would get 70% of the decisions right and 30% of them we would do differently again or even get wrong. I said I would not stand for any of our teams not taking rapid action during that period on a risk-based approach. There is no doubt there are some things we would do differently again but we did not shirk from taking action on procurement to protect lives, the public and patients.