Mr. Robert Watt:

We made it very clear previously in the report I wrote for the Taoiseach, in previous evidence, and again in response to questions from Deputy Jim O'Callaghan and Senator Maria Byrne, that this was a competitive process. The intention was always a competitive process. Despite what the report says, money was not allocated to Trinity College Dublin. It was allocated to a fund, which would be managed by the Health Research Board, HRB, on the same basis that the Government has subsequently agreed, because it subsequently agreed to allocate additional funding for pandemic preparedness. The Government is now actually delivering in terms of additional research funding through the HRB, and, I understand through a competitive process, what was set out in the letter of intent.