Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 27 November 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

Update on Construction of National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board

Mr. Fred Barry:

I am not sure they are over and above what might be expected. Managing safety is such a tough job on a congested and very big site. We are very committed to and very focused on helping support the safety effort. I am absolutely certain that our main contractor is committed to safe management. There is no divide between us and the contractors on these issues. We are all trying to do the right thing. It is a very difficult task. There will be times when we see things we do not like. We will communicate them to the contractor and we expect the contractor to be responsive. If the contractor is not responsive at a low level, we elevate the matter to a senior level. We elevate safety issues to the most senior level. We are all working together on this but we think claims will be a problem. Maintaining a safe site when there will be so many people working on it over the coming years requires non-stop vigilance, support and attention from everyone on our team and on the contractor's team, but we are all dedicated to that.