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

I refer to where we are now in terms of a review. At the outset, Mr. Pollock stated, "The Comptroller and Auditor General, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the HSE, as funder, were in agreement with the approach taken by the development board and the Department confirmed to the development board that it had no objection to the write-down in the development board’s 2013 accounts." That could be read as, "All is okay". However, it is not okay and that is the point made by Deputy Joe Costello.

It has been suggested to undertake a review of that expenditure. Arising from this hearing and the wishes of the Committee of Public Accounts, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, either alone or in conjunction with the Department of Health, should undertake a speedy review of that expenditure. I think that is what is required here. That would lead us to the minutes of the meetings and the decisions being made with the service providers and so on. Someone was responsible for the spend of €35.5 million of taxpayers' money. We are not talking about nickels and dimes here. It is a significant amount of money. While I understand the new board will take it on and learn lessons, I certainly would not be satisfied without a commitment from Mr. Costello's board, from the Department of Health and from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that a review will be undertaken and that it will be done efficiently and brought back to us within a reasonable timeframe. Deputy Costello is that where you-----