Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I am in my office in Leinster House. I have a couple of questions on the national children's hospital. I have heard, as I am sure others have, speculation on the likely cost, and we went through that the last day. Some suggest it is in the wrong place. Since the hospital is built, I am not certain whether a discussion on that basis is intent on doing anything material, and I do not think it is relevant at all. Can the Minister outline the extent to which the project is nearing completion, or is half completed or otherwise, and whether it is in keeping with the specification, whatever the specification has been? Will it be in keeping with the best available global standards at this time? Will it be possible to assume that the best quality of service is readily available to children and their parents from whenever it is available?

We received some information on the State Claims Agency. I am concerned that it is running away from us in a worrying fashion and we need to do something about it. I have not had an opportunity to read the new papers that came through. What is needed is to be able to identify the areas most State claims originate from. It is at approximately €530 million so it is time to do something serious about that, to identify what mistakes are being made and what was identified over the past four or five years in this context, and where we can go to ensure the State's interests are safeguarded, as well as patients’ interests, because that is where the State Claims Agency comes in when something goes wrong.