Dr. Ambrose McLoughlin:

The issues here are very complex. I have read the Ombudsman's report very carefully and I reject the statement that there is a history of carelessness. These are complex issues. While I do not want to get into every scheme, if the committee members want to, I can go through them. When laws are drafted and enacted, unforeseen challenges can emerge and unforeseen circumstances arise. The critical issue is that the Department responds. I have been Secretary General for a few months but I will take this extremely seriously. I assure members that my predecessors also took this seriously, certainly in the context of the two issues we are dealing with. These matters were comprehensively dealt with in so far as they could be but they were complex. I assure the committee that we will be happy to take the advice of the Ombudsman.