Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Regardless of our political affiliations, we all sincerely wish him good luck.

I wish to ask a couple of questions, the first of which will be on the board. I do not want Mr. Barry to say anything that could affect future relationships on the board, but its membership is not an issue solely for the Minister. The legislation is clear, in that the chair of the board nominates three members to the Minister for appointment. Is this something that Mr. Barry has considered or is willing to consider? He is stepping mid-stream into a board. I do not know whether he has worked with any of the board members previously or has a prior professional relationship with them. Will he use this opportunity to bring in people whom he has worked with and whose experience he knows? Has he begun considering this matter?

Second, Mr. Barry has vast experience. I looked through his CV last night. He has international experience in project management and I am sure he has been involved in many large-scale tendering and procurement processes. One of the major questions that is starting to emerge relates to the two-stage process that was decided by the development board. The board received a derogation from the Government construction contracts committee, GCCC. This type of derogation in a two-stage process has only been taken up twice - once by the development board and once in respect of the Dunkettle interchange - and at a preliminary stage. The development board would have been a pioneer in this type of procurement process. From his previous work in project management, has Mr. Barry experience of this type of two-stage process? He might provide some commentary, after which I will ask a follow-up question.