Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste is talking about learning lessons for the future, but I would like him to learn them for the present because I would argue that if the Government stops now, which it is allowed to do according to the terms of the contract, and retenders, it could save itself in the region of €500 million. The Government should opt for a remeasurable contract rather than stick with a fixed-price contract which will cost a lot more than €1.7 billion. I have already said that I do not expect the overall cost to stop at €2.2 billion.

I know value for money is a concern for the Government. I checked the Government's public spending code. One of the questions it asks is whether the Government is doing the right thing, namely, spending money to achieve the right objectives. I would say "Yes" because the Government is looking to provide a hospital that is required. The second question relates to doing it right, namely, spending money as efficiently as possible and avoiding waste. I would say "No" the Government is not doing it right. I accept that we will learn lessons for the future, but let us learn them for now. The Government can save itself a lot of money by stopping the project now and going for a retender. I am not interested in looking for heads either, but I ask the Tánaiste to look at the legal process and the conflict of interest between the board and the legal firm involved.

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