Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Chairman for the invite and his co-operation in arranging this meeting.

I welcome Mr. Fraser to the meeting. I want to preface my remarks by saying I do not want to cast any aspersions over or question the competence or ability of the Secretary General of the Department of Health. I have dealt with him on few occasions, including when he recently appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts, and I do not question his competence.

Regarding the process for the selection of the candidate, my understanding is it was agreed at a meeting of the Taoiseach, the Minister of Health, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and Mr. Fraser. At that initial meeting, had Mr. Fraser been aware for some period that the position in the Department of Health would become vacant? At what stage did he find that out? I understand the previous Secretary General in the Department of Health moved to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. I presume if he was moving to that Department that would have been known for some time. That Department was set up last July and that Secretary General had worked with the previous Minister, Deputy Harris. At what stage did Mr. Fraser become aware the Secretary General wanted to move or that this move was happening and would be approved? Obviously, that Secretary General could not simply take it upon himself to decide he would move to that Department. Can Mr. Fraser outline that briefly for me? I am conscious of members’ time, particularly the members of the finance committee and we do not want to encroach too much on their time.