Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can commit to that. As I told the Select Committee on Health last week, companies will have contracts with the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board. Whether the Minister is me, Deputy Donnelly or someone else, those contracts will be legally placed with the National Paediatric Hospital Development board and the company. As I told the meeting, I intend to meet the chair of the National Paediatric Hospital Development board as part of our consideration before we go back to Government or the health committee on how best to implement the recommendations. I have very strong views on this. I went as far as I believe is appropriate to do last week without prejudicing the outcome of that. The report does name a couple of individual companies, but it will be a matter for the board and it might require legal advice. I am clear that the terms of reference were changed, and they were changed for a reason. The Deputy asked us to change them and I acknowledge that, so PwC had the ability within the terms of reference to identify roles, stakeholders and people who could be accountable. It chose to do so in some cases. I will speak to the board about what its options might be in this regard.

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