Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have a final question for Mr. Gunning but the Comptroller and Auditor General may have a word on it too. Before phase B, as it was known, proceeded - I certainly would have had an issue with going with the existing contractor at the time without having a second tender process - I put on the record of the committee that the contractor in question was in litigation on nine other projects with the State. I know if I were building a house and the developer sued me, one could chalk it down that the developer would not be building my next house.

This is an important point. Why would we go with somebody who has form and is suing us left, right and centre as it is? It is said the definition of true insanity is to do the same thing again and again and expect a different outcome. Is it Irish law, European law or both that forces us to engage somebody with whom we had a bad experience in the past? Was it just our own stupidity?