Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

Whether I was flabbergasted is the Deputy's interpretation. I made it clear there was no policy change because the question put to me by the Deputy was that the statement CIE had made had changed the policy. I made it clear that CIE does not make policy; the Department and the Minister make policy. As I said at the time, I was not aware of the statement before it was made, which is not the normal protocol with CIE on operational matters such as this one and, therefore, from that point of view, that was a breach of protocol as far as I was concerned but I was not flabbergasted. I was at pains to point out that it was Government that decided the policy on this issue. The Deputy might want to put down a specific question on that.

If I meet somebody when I arrive to visit a State agency, even the person on reception, I will always say hello to them. My recollection is that is what I did that morning. I probably met a few personnel from Heuston Station. I met with the board. A number of officials were waiting to brief the board on whatever was on the agenda on that particular day. They were the people I met on the day. I had conversations with all of them but I did not have meetings with people and discuss interconnectors or anything else.

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