Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In June of last year, the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board sent a memo to the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, outlining the benefits to be gained by the members of that board continuing to serve for another term. In July, the board was informed that the Minister had accepted its memo and had written to the chairperson to confirm that all of the individuals involved were to be reappointed to the board. We now know that the scale and trajectory of the overruns at the national children's hospital were known to the board during that period. We know there was an overrun of €95 million in June, rising to €191 million in August. It is clear from the minutes that the board also had concerns regarding the ability of the main contractor, BAM, to deliver the project. Yet, it appears the Minister reappointed the entire board without question. Did the Minister conduct a performance review of the board members before reappointing all of them? Did he have any details or engagement with the members before he reappointed the entire board or with the project? Did he discuss with the chairperson how the project was running before he reappointed an entire board?

See this speech in context