Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Let me stop Mr. Tierney there. He has acknowledged that they are experts in one area, airflow and ventilation, which probably shows where their expertise is. He said that no one is suggesting there is a problem. STS consultants suggest there is a problem. They told CHI there is a problem. These are not snag lists, but rather major generic faults that are indicative of the non-compliance and unresolved issues found during the walkarounds. The longer these issues take to get resolved, the more expensive and time-consuming it will become. Does the Department accept that STS consultants reported that to CHI in May? When they came in October to do a two-day assessment, they left after one day. Why? It was because nothing had been done. They make it clear in the letter. They state that nothing has been done. Nothing has been taken on board. The Department decided to plough ahead and build the theatres. The theatres are now built, ready for the machinery - some of the machinery is in them - and a stop order was issued a week last Thursday which has been rescinded. There is no point telling them to stop because the work is complete.

The order that does exist today is for all of those experts - the mechanical and electrical engineers and the main contractor - to go into conclave and try to find out how to rectify the situation when the theatres have been built, as opposed to in May when they told the Minister or the board that the longer these issues take to be resolved, the more expensive and time-consuming it will be. They said the systems were going to fail the final validation and will not be fit for use. Does the Minister accept that the experts have identified what they call a major generic fault in the operating theatres? He is politically accountable. He is the person who leads his Department. I want to know what role he has taken with regard to this or whether it is a hands-off role.