Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, and unfortunately it does not suit our purpose today. To continue with the audit report and the issue of client representative costs, we received correspondence from the Department on 30 May 2012 which included a breakdown of costs incurred on the Poolbeg waste energy project. It went into some detail with regard to the costs and we discussed it at the time. I stated it raised more questions than it answered. I am sure Ms Tallon saw the correspondence before it was issued but I know she will not remember it. I have a copy in front of me and I will go through a couple of the points in it.

While the audit report discusses money spent it does not question enough of the areas in as much detail as I would like. Under the first heading, a bulleted list is provided for client representative costs. This list includes the preparation of various reports including PPP assessment, procurement of a design model, and the development and implementation of a public consultation and information strategy. The correspondence sent to us by the Department mentions stakeholder consultation and public relations and other costs with regard to public awareness, other consultancy design, market soundings and the cost of a public awareness office in Ringsend. When I see the bill for €25 million for client representative costs under one heading which includes public consultation and information strategy, and I see a separate bill for just over €4 million also including all of these things, I am concerned about duplication or the project being seen as a potential cash cow by certain people who can get money for all types of things without properly explaining themselves.

Prior to Ms Tallon sending this correspondence to the committee was there a discussion about the various items detailed? Was it discussed with the manager at the time? Did anyone at the Department examine it in detail and raise questions? The second heading is with regard to other consultancy and Dublin Waste Energy Limited was paid €1 million. However, Dublin City Council is part of the Dublin waste to energy consortium.