Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Perhaps I can make a brief reply on the specific question and then I shall answer the more general question. I had no discussion with the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Tim O'Malley. However, the then Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Callely, said in the correspondence on that occasion that two issues arose, one being the distinction between eligibility and entitlement for the over 70s. He said he mentioned that to me on the margins of a vote. The other issue he mentioned was that his Department was seeking to get definitive legal opinion on the proper definitions of what was going to happen. That is what he said he told me. We did not have any discussions about the broad substance of the issues. That is the question on which the then Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Callely, was interviewed and gave that evidence, which is on page 157 or 158 of the report. That is the——

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