John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Yes, but that is an important detail. While I intend to question Mr. Barry on other matters after other speakers have finished, the fact is that because the witnesses state it went to tender and to public procurement and was advertised, as is expected of the entity, everyone assumes this refers to the here and now, and that it did so as a new entity. However, Irish Water did not do this as a new entity. This is one example in which the contract went to tender four years ago and the entity is locked into that service, in this case from Deloitte. It will be four years old, because Irish Water got an extension, and it has not tested the market again separately with regard to Irish Water, to ascertain whether a reduced price could be obtained or whether someone was doing this for a better price. Mr. Barry cannot tell me how much it cost, that is, how much Deloitte charges. Surely that is a major cost? It is a new cost and Mr. Barry should know it off the top of his head. He has all the other figures to hand.