Ms Mary Moylan:

Not necessarily. That is one definition but I worked in the Department in an area involving planning and heritage that was complicated and could be seen to have competing interests and it was my job to take decisions on those and make recommendations to advance the Department's objectives.

Regarding the purchase of the Irish Glass Bottle site, as I said before, the board was responsible for the decision on the purchase. It was not a matter for the Department or the Minister, so there was not a conflict in that issue. Regarding the approvals the Department and the Minister had to give for the borrowing sanction and for the authority to enter into a joint venture, I was satisfied that the decision the board recommended was within the parameters that had been agreed by the Minister.