I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 to 147, inclusive, together.
The Deputy will be aware that Deloitte Consultants have been appointed to undertake an External Review of the €3.6bn General Government Debt issue. A fixed price of €50,000 has been agreed with the company; this is exclusive of VAT and any associated expenses which are capped at a maximum of 10% of the contract price.
At this stage, the work of the External Review is well under way and I understand that the consultants are likely to complete their work in the course of next week.
In regard to the Internal Report, it is my understanding that this work is near completion following its circulation to relevant parties involved, who were given sufficient time to provide their final comments on it.
Following consideration by the Government, it is my intention, subject to legal advice and in a timely manner, to send the Internal Report and the External Review to the Committee of Public Accounts. It is also my intention to publish them.
As previously highlighted in questions on this matter, it has to be recognised that while this matter was most regrettable, it was a statistical reporting discrepancy where our debt level was mistakenly stated as being higher than it actually was. This discrepancy had no impact on the 2011 budgetary deficit and the State is no better or worse off as a result of it.