The often asked question is why Ray Burke was appointed. The answer is simple. He was capable and had much experience in different Ministries. Indeed, as a young diplomat, I first remember meeting him when he was a junior Minister to the then Minister, former Deputy Des O'Malley, coming back from a trade mission abroad. He was an exceptionally forceful person. He made a great contribution to the establishment of local radio, which has been of lasting benefit. When Brian Lenihan was ill during the Anglo-Irish conference, I remember Tom King breathed a sigh of relief when those bruisers, the former Deputies Collins and Burke, had to make way for him when he had recovered. It is interesting to recall that at the time of the beef tribunal Ray Burke was painted as being on the side of the angels in relation to export credit relief. My experience of him in the Department of Justice is that he was cautious.