Then there is the matter of the legal advice obtained before the signing of the agreement. The Government entered into an agreement potentially worth €1 billion and failed to get adequate legal assistance. When the former Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Woods, announced in January 2002 that an agreement in principle had been made with the religious organisations, the Office of the Attorney General sought information on the detailed negotiations, including the extent of the indemnity offered. This information was sought on 31 January and 1 February 2002. A full six weeks later, the Attorney General wrote again and stated that unless he was supplied with the requested information he could not give legal advice on the deal. One month later, and ten weeks after the initial communication from the Attorney General, the Minister finally responded.