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

That it is particularly so when they move into an area related to their work here. That is fine. There is one other matter in respect of correspondence. It has not been flagged for consideration but I just want to mention a response we have received from St. James's Hospital, No. R1534B, dated 19 October. It concerns a request for an explanation of non-compliant procurement. The reply states that €395,000 is accounted for but non-compliant procurement noted in the Comptroller and Auditor General's audit certificate amounted to 14% of €207 million, amounting to the sum of approximately €29 million. The hospital has given us tables relating to €395,000. The problem is that what we are actually seeking clarification on procurement in the region of €29 million. Members will see on the table attached to the reply that a breakdown is given of six different items or services that were procured but, as I have said, this expenditure only comes to €395,000 whereas the actual figure we are seeking clarification on is the full 14% of non-pay expenditure, which is a figure in the region of €29 million. Does any member wish to address this? I propose that we write back to the hospital seeking an explanation for that because we got an explanation for €400,000 when the figure is €29 million. In fairness to the hospital, there may be legitimate reasons this expenditure cannot be tendered for. It may be a case of sole suppliers or specialised services that are only available from one provider. That may be the case but we need to know.