John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

There is no farce from my point of view. The situation is quite straightforward — I requested people to observe due process. As I have said before, neither I nor my officials leaked the report and we were not responsible for it. I have also said on several occasions that, irrespective of what anybody said, we would observe due process. There was no point in setting out on that road a couple of months ago and coming along now saying we would terminate that process and make decisions on the hoof. I will not do it. In recent weeks, people have been given the opportunity to express their views on the report. It is only right and proper that this should occur. They have until the end of business today to make their observations.

In the intervening period, I have also taken the opportunity to appoint two new members to Bord na gCon. I wrote to thank Mr. John Hegarty and Mr. Cathal Curley for their services to the board over three and nine years respectively. I decided that it was opportune at this point to appoint two new members to the board: Mr. Séamus Mallon, the former MP, representing Northern interests; and Mr. Dick O'Sullivan, who has made an enormous contribution as the manager of Punchestown, in Mr. Hegarty's place. These are two good appointments. I again thank the outgoing members, while wishing the new members well.

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