Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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I cannot for the life of me understand how the OPW was on the hook for this either. Deputy Kelly drew attention to the notion it should not have been on the hook for the modular homes either. There is no sponsoring Department, yet it is the OPW that is dealing with the arbitration. I cannot for the life of me understand how the OPW would have been advised that in 2013 in the middle of the economic crash when everything was being downsized, services were being cut right, left and centre and the troika was in town there could not have been an argument made that this was not something the State could afford. I am sure the State said it had no money, but surely the arbitration should have been proceeded with on the basis this was not something the State could viably proceed with. It should have been ended at that stage. Can Mr. Conlan give us a copy of the legal advice the OPW got? I am formally requesting that. There is that and then there is the second thing, which is going into arbitration without a business case and without the costs for fit out.

This is not like fitting out an office block where one is putting in desks and chairs. One is putting in very expensive museum pieces, which will have to be replaced from time to time, because one will need to keep the space freshened up. I am told that the fit out would be something in the region of €20 million.