Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the members of the board for their work. As someone who has acted in arbitration cases in a legal capacity, I am familiar with the dispute resolution processes with which the board is dealing.

People might not like me saying this, but I have engaged with the developers of a children's hospital in Ontario that is costing $3.8 billion in Canadian currency, or €2.6 billion. The hospital is a similar-sized development. It would be worth people's time to consider that development in light of the scale of our children's hospital.

The previous Oireachtas health committee was invited to visit the Dublin site. If I am correct, the then Chairman, former Deputy Michael Harty, and I were the only two who did so. I am open to correction on that, as there may have been other members present, but that is my recollection. I would look forward to visiting again.

I wish to address the 600 or so claims, which the board says amount to €200 million. I am concerned about that figure. My understanding is that there was to be a bill of quantities provided for the tendering process. This was certainly to be the case for the contract's second phase. Is it now the case that the bill of quantities was not adequate for the tendering process and the contract and, as a result, disputes are arising?

If the more than 600 claims amount to €200 million, some claims must be for well in excess of €50,000. Perhaps Mr. Gunning will outline the types of claim in that regard. How many of the 600 claims have been resolved? How many can be resolved before the end of the year? How many will remain unresolved and go to a more detailed litigation process? If we are talking about €200 million extra, these 600 claims are not €1,000 each. Some of them must be substantial sums. Therefore, there must be a significant variation between what the builders are being asked to do and what they claim they were required to do under the plan and design stage and the bill of quantities. Mr. Gunning might provide us some details.