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

The previous conversation referred to staff being seconded. Regarding outside professional advice, it is a small country and Dublin is a small town in some ways. Presumably that is an outside firm that the Department brings in. What safeguards are there in terms of advice? In the previous discussion this morning I asked whether we are getting the best value. It is a bit like selling a bullock before it is fully fattened - there is a higher value on it. The banks have become much more profitable. I am not an economist but the evidence is there that they have come back into profitability and are in a better state in terms of the return. The half-yearly profits are substantial. How can Mr. Hogan safeguard against professional advice being given that might skew things against the public interest and in favour of private interests?