Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Is the Minister saying there will be no ex ante review as promised in section 3 of his 12-point plan and section 4, which refers to projects above €30 million and provides for a thorough cost benefit appraisal and ex ante review? He is saying that where the tax expenditures on a €100 million private hospital is at least €42 million, that he is abandoning the notion of cost benefit analysis. Will he agree that if he is to do so, this in fact would be a dereliction of the promises he made in his speech to the chamber of commerce and of his role where public expenditure is concerned?

See this speech in context