Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I understand. I have already accepted what Deputy Cullinane said. It is a fair challenge, but if I might challenge back slightly: he was not invited. I was invited, and I have come with the regional executive officer, who was not invited. I also come with three assistant secretaries who were not invited. If the committee was that keen on speaking to Ian Carter, respectfully, it should have invited him here. The committee did not invite him. Nonetheless, it is a very fair challenge and it would be useful to hear from Ian. Given that he has just started, his evidence would probably be more useful to the committee after he has at least a few weeks to get a sense of it himself.

The office block has been closed. I can tell Deputy Crowe that Ian has set up residence in the hospital. He is a formidable gentleman and manager. The office block should never have been opened. The management should have been on the site all the time. The block is now being turned into an outpatient department.