Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

One of the defining characteristics of the Government's response to this issue from the outset has been its refusal to accept that any error was made or that it got it wrong. The Minister, as recently as 6 February, when he was asked about the cost of the national children's hospital, replied that it was a reasonable cost and that it represented reasonable value. However, PwC has been appointed by the Government so it is obvious that something is wrong. We cannot actually say that the taxpayer has not been ripped off. Memos showing the interaction between the hospital board, the Department and the contractors are beginning to emerge. At one stage, the contractor was threatening to reconsider its participation in the project, which is extraordinary. It seems that the Government was paralysed and powerless to do anything. It is quite extraordinary that the Government and the Minister are of the view that €1.7 billion represents a reasonable cost for the hospital. Is that still the Government's position? We have not had a satisfactory explanation as to why this was not put on the Government's early warning system and how everybody, particularly the Minister for Finance, was oblivious to it. Nobody bothered to tell the latter until November.

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