Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I get that. It had a rate per fill of concrete, per square foot of tiles or whatever. People simply did not seem to know how many square foot or how many lengths were needed. That is very clear. I am very concerned that a company came in and tendered for both phases, got the first one and gave a preliminary price for the second one which bore no reflection to the final price. Essentially, I would argue that was perhaps always the plan. It knew that once it was on site and very clearly from the submissions that it was cushioned by references to the desperate need for a new children's hospital. It knew that we were stuck. I would argue that we have a serious competition issue here. The division of the tender into two phases did not lead to the opportunity for two contractors to come in and properly tender for a job.

Was it always the plan that the outpatients department and the urgent care units would be separated out in terms of costs? I do not remember them being separated out in terms of costs.