Dr. Niall Herity:

I will answer Senator Paudie Coffey's question subsequently if I am given time. I received multiple sources of information from many parties, including the Department of Health, the HSE, international and local advisory bodies, the Irish Cardiac Society, local clinicians and managers. I put all of it together in the overall review. I analysed and questioned the data, where necessary, and came to my own conclusions without any pressure being exerted from any quarter. In fact, the single most consistent message I received concerned my independence in considering the matter. All of the people I met were at pains to point out that they were applying no pressure on me but that they were putting the facts and context together in order that I would build on them.