Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Or even promoters for developers out of his own stable. He stated that if we wanted to find that out, we should go to the National Treasury Management Agency. I think the Government should tell us about its position. Is it the case that Bernard McNamara has been selected? Is it the case, given the controversy that has unfolded with Dublin City Council, that he does not have the capacity to deliver this project and that we will be picking up the pieces later in the year? The Minister has avoided questions on this issue and he has avoided questions on the Central Mental Hospital. There have also been many questions from the residents.

Senator Joe O'Toole stated that when the residents came into the committee meeting, the Minister's party colleagues were careful to put on the record that they opposed the prison. Deputy Darragh O'Brien told us of his record of opposing it on Fingal County Council and why he was so worried for the residents. Senator O'Toole pointed out that no Members from the Government parties were in support of this project. We were left wondering who actually is promoting the project. It seems that it was left to the unfortunate civil servants to carry the can, because Fianna Fáil and Green Party backbenchers are not supporting it. Nobody supports it, according to Senator O'Toole.

Mr. Jimmy Farrelly did a useful exercise, but it is only an exercise in explication. He was brought in to go through the countless filing cabinets of submissions that were made and to synthesise them into an accessible document. He did that, but he has not expressed any view. Some of the views he interprets for us are very supportive of the views that we have advanced from this side of the House. The Minister was less than sure-footed.

See this speech in context