Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On 12 February, in a reply to a parliamentary question I tabled, the Minister stated he could confirm that Dr. Scally had indicated to him on 31 January that in the course of his work, he identified further laboratories. The Minister went on to state he was awaiting Dr. Scally's report, which was expected soon. The following day, at a meeting of the Committee on Health, when I asked the Secretary General of the Minister's Department when the report would be published, he replied it was imminent. I understood him to mean it would be the same week. It turned out Dr. Scally was in Dublin, for a meeting or something else, and he was at the Department, according to the Minister's diary, the following day - 14 February. I believe Mr. Jim Breslin, Secretary General, and that what he told me was correct, namely, that the report was imminent. If it was imminent, if the Minister believed on 12 February that it was coming soon, if on 13 February, the Secretary General believed that it was imminent, and if on 14 February, Dr. Scally was at the Department, what changed to make it four months? Was there some large revelation or did new information appear at that juncture?

See this speech in context