Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

This is pathetic. I know the Deputy wants to be taken seriously, but he is the only comic I know who does not smile. The prison can be built through public private partnership, and we need to take into account the changed construction cost conditions that are now in place. This tender was made in January 2007, at the height of the construction cost period, so savings and economies can be made through more functional design and reductions in costs. Given the current position we are in, we were not able to proceed with this project. I do not ascribe any blame to anybody in respect of the negotiations; that is the way things worked out. We now have to proceed quickly to an alternative, but-----

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