Ms Fiona Prendergast:

Our view is absolutely in line with that of the development board. I understand there is a public interest in State bodies making informed decisions in the course of carrying out their functions but we must be able to maintain the confidentiality of deliberative processes, particularly where these relate to ongoing negotiations and commercially sensitive information, some of which are subject to legal proceedings. We are absolutely at one with the development board in that discussing this matter is just not appropriate at this stage.