Mr. Robert Watt:

A derogation was sought at the GCCC, of which Mr. David O'Brien is the chairman. In the normal course of events, projects are tendered on a lump sum basis, in respect of which a standard contract form is used. In respect of the national children's hospital, the board appeared before the contracts committee over a number of years and debated the merits and feasibility of the existing approach versus the other approaches. Following those debates, a derogation was sought from the lump sum contract and the board then proceeded on the two-stage basis. A derogation was sought. It is not for the contracts to approve that derogation or for my Department to approve it. The board sought a derogation and it was awarded. It is the responsibility of the sanctioning authority to satisfy itself that the procurement approach and strategy is the appropriate one to adopt.