Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 7 March 2019

Public Accounts Committee

Oversight and Implementation of Capital Projects and the Role of Public Officials on State Boards: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Government Procurement

9:00 am

Mr. Robert Watt:

When it comes to attendance at committees, I am the Accounting Officer, obviously. I am responsible. I am here, therefore, as the main person to answer questions. I bring along the people who I think can help me in ensuring we answer questions. In fairness, in our engagement in the past, we have always tried to be upfront and have the relevant information to hand, and if it was not to hand, my colleagues could help. The people I chose for today's meeting are those who are in a position to help in answering the questions. As for Mr. Quinn, David O'Brien is the chair of the Government contracts committee. That was the committee involved in the consultation with the national children's hospital board regarding the type of procurement process that might be desirable for this project.