Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On the day they were before the committee, the Deputy is correct in outlining the way matters proceeded until I asked them and got them finally to admit that there had been a settlement or settlements. However, they admit that there were 11 settlements. That related to personal injury. Six of the settlements referred to exceeded €20,000. We will seek to follow this up with the Minister and bring to her attention the frustration of the committee with regard to any settlements there were with the Revenue Commissioners. Perhaps we will ask the Minister to respond to us with her view of this and of what can be done. Ultimately, this is a public body and it depends on public funding, so there must be some level of accountability here. We will proceed with that.

The next item is No. 629B from Mr. Robert Watt, Secretary General of the Department of Health, in response to a request that the Department provide a copy of the report on the progress review of the national paediatric hospital. The Secretary General states that the analysis remains ongoing. He continues:

... elements of this exercise continue to be confidential and will remain commercially sensitive for an extended period, given that there is a live contract in place with the primary contractor which the Development Board is statutorily responsible for. There is an extremely high likelihood that any discussion on costs or dates, however hypothetical, even from the draft stages of the process, would prejudice enforcement of the existing contract and very likely undermine the role of the Development Board in its ongoing engagement with the main contractor.

He continues further:

... the Department and the Development Board have a responsibility to ensure the successful completion of this project and that any discussion of the details arising out of this process, at this time, would undermine and jeopardise that, and negatively impact any further options available to ensuring the delivery of what will be a world class healthcare facility for generations to come and the best value for public expenditure.

At our meeting on 15 June 2021, we agreed to note and publish this item and to accept the Department's offer to meet with it and the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board before the summer recess. Invitations have issued to both bodies for 13 July. Deputy Munster flagged this for discussion. Does she wish to contribute?