Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

Exactly, but it is not a budgetary option available to a Government to break a contract with a contractor engaged in a capital project. There could be a substantial exposure for the State in the sums which could be recovered by damages and penalties were the State to breach a contract which is contractually committed in the public capital programme. In examining the scope for any savings, I assume the officials are identifying the areas for the Deputy which are not contractually committed as these are the areas available for any reductions. Where there is a contractual commitment, it is not open to us to do so.

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