Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I am not in a position to give that guarantee at the moment. My Department has applied to the Department of Finance, which is the body that can give sanction to extend a contract like that. My Department cannot do that. We made that application today. BIM requested that our Department do it and our request has gone to the Department of Finance. I am hopeful that we will get a quick response so that we can give BIM the breathing space to make the transition, as I have already outlined.

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