Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Does the Taoiseach stand over this system? Why was the system not designed with the needs of those who will use it in mind? Can the Taoiseach confirm that contracts were sent out with the tender documentation, saying what the Department had estimated in the first place, what it wanted from the system and the conditions that applied to it? What were the incentives? What were the penalties that were to apply if the system was not delivered on time? Is it not a fact that officials from the Department of Finance, after a single meeting, raised serious concerns about the services being provided by one consultant? They said that if the consultant's focus was to be at the detailed level, the average day rate was inappropriate. The Taoiseach is aware that the average day rate for trainees is between €1,000 and €3,000 per day. That means that the firm in question is paid €70,000 per diem. The Taoiseach is standing over that botched system, which deals with just one third of the workforce of the health service, without any sense of responsibility.

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