David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Let us test that for a moment. The Minister is saying that the €51 million was for enabling works. There was agreement within this Government and that which preceded it that this is the best site and we should go ahead with the build. We then spend the money because that is where the hospital is going to be built. How is it then the case that when Deputy Bríd Smith and I put questions to the Tánaiste a number of weeks ago, his response was that he agreed with our concerns and, in fact, said there were real concerns over the ownership of the site. He talked about alternative options, including the State purchasing the land. If the Government was of the view that all of this was settled and that we were going to continue with the project and spend this money, how is it then that the Tánaiste made those statements? Since then, the Taoiseach and former Ministers, including a former Minister for Health, have raised serious concerns over this project and its location.