Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

She is saying what we all know to be true. We all know that the real word that is not being used here is "profiling". The reason Mr. Reid said that there will be a three-year plan put together is that this needs to be politically profiled. Mr. Breslin and Mr. Reid both have one chance and one opportunity to be straight up with the public. There cannot be an overspend on the children's hospital without it having dramatic impacts on capital planning. It is impossible. We are all educated and we can all do maths. Mr. Breslin and Mr. Reid have one opportunity to be straight up and this is it. No matter how much the witnesses have prepared for this committee collectively in the HSE and in the Department, they have this one opportunity. As an elected representative, I am asking them on behalf of the public and on behalf of the people of Ireland, to tell us the impact this will have on capital projects across the country. I do not want to hear the witnesses tell me that this discussion has not happened or that this analysis has not been done because there are many competent people in the HSE. In fact, there are very competent people in the HSE who know exactly how this is impacting capital planning. I ask the witnesses to tell us how this will impact on capital projects over the coming years.

Our guests should not hide behind the budgetary process, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and so on. I can give examples, as we all can in all our areas, of projects that were expected to come forward in the coming years that I now know are being pushed out. Our guests have one opportunity to tell us exactly how the overspend will affect capital planning. For example, there is a national maternity strategy, which was begun by the previous Government but published by the current Government. I am 100% behind the strategy, given that it is one of the best strategies I have seen for any section in healthcare. Just €5 million is needed for the planning and design of a new maternity hospital in Limerick. My children, my brother and I were born in the current hospital. It is not fit for purpose. Three years after the plan was published, the €5 million is still being profiled and is not available.

This is our guests' opportunity. I ask them not to give the answers they gave previously because I do not accept them. They should be aware that we will return to whatever they state. This is their one opportunity to be open and honest with the public.