Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Chair is correct. There was no evidence justifying the conclusion reached, and it certainly did not relate to the terms of reference. I am subject to correction on that but I could not see where it related.

We asked previously whether there was a conflict of interest, as the Deputy has said. We were told there was no such conflict of interest in the appointment of PwC. I raised this matter in the Dáil last night. It is worrying that the Minister repeated that the Government is relying on the conclusions reached by PwC. It has been careful to say that the PwC conclusions concur with its own, but it is relying on the PwC conclusion that there is no option but to proceed with the build. That conclusion is quoted ad nauseam, and it is worrying.

What was PwC paid? Was there a written report when it was asked for high-level input? Was the Government aware, when it commissioned PwC for this report, costing over €500,000, that it had already completed a report? In general, I find this type of response most unhelpful. When we get a line to say that the Government was not involved in the decision making process, that is an insult to the Committee on Public Accounts. It would never happen that it would be left to make a decision, otherwise we would be in even more trouble that we are in. Things get more difficult when this is the example being set, on a repeated basis, for governance. There are general implications from this. Was there a written report? Was PwC paid? Was the Government aware that PwC was involved before it was commissioned again at a cost of over €500,000?