Joanna Byrne (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Like my colleagues, I thank everybody from the trust who has come here today. I appreciate they are in a difficult position as the public face of a very damaging regime that may have been there before them. It is to be commended that they are here with us today.

In recent months, many of us have been shocked to hear the disclosures about the Peter McVerry Trust. It is probably fair to say that we did not think we could be more shocked. However, that is what has happened as the day has gone on and as more answers have been forthcoming during this morning's session and again this afternoon. The witnesses' transparency has to be commended. As we sit here and listen to this, it beggars belief that much of it actually happened. It is fair to say that the Department probably adopted a hands-off approach with the trust until it imploded and came to the brink of collapse. My first question has to be directed towards the Department. How, in the name of God, did it let things get so bad? That might be directed at Mr. Kelly.