Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Watt, Mr. Mulvany and the teams from the HSE and the Department. I have a few questions; perhaps Mr. Watt may start.

There has been some commentary regarding the public spending code as it relates to capital projects. Mr. Watt is uniquely qualified, given his previous role in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to comment on this. If the Minister for Health, the Cabinet or the CEO of a health group came to Mr. Watt and said that they needed a project, whether it be for a new labs or something else that would cost more than €100 million, fast-tracked as soon as possible, what could be done in respect of such a matter within the parameters of the public spending code? If there was an absolute commitment that the project was vital for a hospital or health group, how long would it take to progress it?