Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Even if we accept that a children's hospital needs additional things that the Mater hospital did not need, it still came in at less than half the cost, without any of the economies of scale. When I put this to the Minister and the officials, the defence consistently is that it is not the way to look at it and if one looks at the cost per square metre, they have this quantity surveyors' report, which in 2016 said it was €2,500 per sq. m, but it turns out that two years later it thinks it is €6,000 per sq. m. If one looks at the children's hospital in cost per square metre terms essentially what the Minister and his officials said that it is coming in at a reasonable price.

Can I ask a straight question? Given my position and how I am looking at the numbers and the Minister's position and how he has laid them out and given that he arrives at very different conclusions, does he believe that the costs that are being incurred - we all accept a fantastic children's hospital is required - at €1.4 billion to €1.7 billion is not acceptable and does not represent a reasonable price for the hopefully great hospital we are going to get?