Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I cannot see how discussions could be held unless issues could be discussed subject to reporting back and getting those issues approved or otherwise. Therefore, I am sure, as is stated, that they gave indications but no undertakings were given. That is the issue that must be stressed — they indicated that these issues could be examined and decisions arrived at. The minute states that they indicated these matters, not that they gave an undertaking. I want to stress that word. I stand by the minute and stress that an indication was given that these things were possible but that an explicit undertaken was not given. It is absolutely important that the minute, as it is written, is placed in its proper context so we all understand that in these discussions indications were given but undertakings could not have been given without having consulted further with the Department of Finance, which was the lead Department.

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