Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I see at what the Deputy is driving. We are at an advanced stage of the evaluation which will be presented to me by all of the expert groups which have been engaged. I do not intend to delay in any unreasonable way in reaching a decision on what should be recommended to the Government. As I said, it will happen in the coming weeks. The real issue of meeting milestones will come after a decision is taken and we are in a position to do so. Any agreement entered into will include milestones and be designed to protect the State in ensuring they are met to a reasonable extent. It would be premature to start specifying milestones when we have not even decided whether the tender is acceptable to the Government.

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