Mr. Seamus McCarthy:

I am just looking back at the 2020 financial statements and the certificate I issued. There were significant difficulties in the hospital at the time. I drew attention to governance issues, a change of chairpersonship, and to the audit committee not functioning as intended or as would normally be expected. I also drew attention to the failure, or at least I did not see any evidence of it, of the board to carry out the required review of internal controls in respect of 2020. In fact, on payroll I drew attention to payroll overpayments where people had continued on the payroll after they had left the employment of the hospital. I drew attention to four cases with total expense of €294,500. There were a lot of difficulties at that point in the hospital. I also drew attention to non-compliant procurement, so that has been an annual reference in the audit certificate for the hospital. These things are connected and the committee can see the further connection in the payroll. In trying to remedy some of these difficulties there is a cost overrun on that project.