Mr. Seamus McCarthy:

I might just comment to begin with. I do not believe there was anything special involved. We were concerned about this. We made significant inquiries into the contingent liability that was associated with the matter. We had lengthy engagement with the Department in successive years. We were satisfied with the level of disclosure in the HSE financial statements at the time. I would always be in favour of more disclosure and more detail being given about these matters but obviously there is a limit. I am quite satisfied that the notes explaining the liabilities in respect of it were what was required by the accounting standards at the time.

To bring further light to the matter, my predecessor reported to the committee in 2010 in a chapter relating to the annual report of 2009 - it was published in 2010 - because of the novelty of the matter. It is a fair representation of the issues that arise in relation to the scheme. There is always an element of pushback in relation to the completion of the audit, particularly where there are novel issues and where there may be sensitivities. We find an appropriate place to settle. I am not familiar with the document that was quoted. I do not know who said those things. I do not know what experience they had had with us. I am quite happy with what we did in respect of this matter.