Mr. David Cooney:

We got our money back, but, as I said, there have certainly been costs involved in following up on the mess that was created by the Ugandans in the first place. However, we got more back than we gave them; that is true.

We got the money back. We asked the embassies to review their risks situation and their procedures. We had a meeting with the heads of mission in Lusaka. Mr. Rogers, Mr. Carlos and I went through it and emphasised the need for vigilance. We effectively pointed out that we needed to make sure that we upped our game in terms of vigilance. The evaluation and audit unit carried out its inspections of the various missions. We had the nine missions and that has arrived at the Synthesis report, which is before us.

I went out, as I said earlier, to Kampala in July where I met the Attorney General and the Minister at the department of foreign affairs. In addition to the Synthesis report, we have also had the final report of the evaluation and audit unit into the fraud in Uganda. The two reports that have just appeared and which members of the committee have, the Synthesis report and the final report of the evaluation and audit unit into the fraud in Uganda, represent an impressive piece of work. Our evaluation and audit unit is independent of the development co-operation division and independent of Irish Aid. It is important that it can call it as it finds it and that it points out failings. As I said when I was here the last time, if there are failings, I am much happier that they are pointed out and I do not mind them being pointed out because if we do not face up to them, confront them and deal with them, we surely will fail again.