Mr. Tony O'Brien:

I am accompanied by my colleagues Ms Laverne McGuinness, national director of integrated services, Mr. Liam Woods, national director, finance, and Dr. Philip Crowley, national director, quality and patient safety.

The basis upon which I am being invited to appear before the Committee of Public Accounts today is stated to be the "Budgetary Situation in 2012." The Health Service Executive appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts in June and the Chapters under examination were disposed of and the account closed at that time. The Health Service Executive is clearly still operating in 2012. The year is not closed and there is no report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on 2012 under examination.