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

Yes. The HSE ended up deciding to have PwC involved. Mr. Watt's Department has the contracts committee. Advice was given by the OGP directly to the national children's hospital board and the Department had someone on that board. In spite of all that Government involvement, from political aspects to the various structures I have mentioned, it has been possible, collectively, to make a right cock-up of the cost of the national children's hospital. Even in accounting for that, and I appreciate Mr. Watt's role in this, it has spread to many different agencies.

For one reason or another, each agency is able to wash its hands and state that it is not its responsibility but that of another agency. Looking back over the history of expenditure in the State, there was some good expenditure. I agree with Mr. Watt that there was also much over-expenditure. The State has learned very little. In private industry, people would be running a mile from a project if the price was not secured, if the money was not secured and if the professionals were not in place. We seem to have had layers of professionals in place on this project.