Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

As regards professional fees, I am sure the Accounting Officer can be questioned about these matters at the Committee of Public Accounts, as he was as regards the site acquisition, in respect of which he gave an extremely good account of the management of this issue by the Department. As regards consultants' fees and various other fees expended to date, this is a major project. It is the most substantial prison building project since the foundation of the State. It is a major development and we certainly need to get it right in terms of the construction and design of the complex, ensuring that best international practice applies. All these matters must be taken into account in developing a project of this type.

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