Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister came into the House yesterday and apologised but I do not think anyone was satisfied with that apology.

The Minister did not apologise for the €0.5 billion overrun and neither does he appear interested in taking any responsibility for that, which is very regrettable. As is the style with this Government, we will be drip-fed information, probably via journalists, rather than get direct answers to questions. However, we will hear over time of this incompetence, who will pay for it and what projects will be re-profiled or whatever word the Government wants to use, although it means they will not happen. It is not credible that overspending of this magnitude can happen without any consequences. There are clearly going to be consequences but the Minister simply has not told us what those consequences are going to be.

As of today, the overrun is currently at €0.5 billion. The Minster was aware of an overrun of at least €191 million on 27 August, plus an additional cost claim of €200 million from the main contractor. Why did the Minister not consult with the Minister for Finance on this issue? It is not credible to say that he did not have a full set of facts. One thing he would have known if he had asked - another very important question is whether he asked - is that the costs were only going in one direction. They were not fluctuating. The overrun went from €95 million to €191 million to €235 million. All the while this was happening, the costs were not fluctuating but were only going in one direction. Does the Minister honestly think it is credible that he did not inform his colleague, the Minister for Finance?

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