Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Transport if drafts were made of the report by the Secretary General of his Department in relation to the recent report produced by her regarding the Aer Lingus Shannon-Heathrow issues; the nature of the changes made by her; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27932/07]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 101: To ask the Minister for Transport if officials in his Department or outside were shown or asked to comment on drafts made of the report by the Secretary General in relation to the recent report produced by her regarding the Aer Lingus Shannon-Heathrow issues; the nature of the changes made; the names of the officials concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27933/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 101 together.

I understand that, before submitting her report to me on Thursday, 25 October, the Secretary General showed drafts of her report to:

those officials specifically referred to in it (viz. the relevant Assistant Secretary, Principal Officer and Assistant Principal and the Secretary General to the Government);

the independent Chairman of the Department's Internal Audit Committee to enable him to prepare his statement which is at Appendix 2 of the Report; and

the Secretary General (Public Service Management and Development Division) at the Department of Finance, to get feedback from an official who was not directly involved in matter.

I understand that, while a number of textual changes were made to her working draft, no change was made to the substance of the report. She also sent extracts of the report specifically referring to conversations with the Chairman of Aer Lingus to him shortly before submitting it to the Minister. The Chairman confirmed that the extracts accurately reflected his recollection of events.