Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask for a tiny bit of latitude as I have only 14 seconds available to answer those two questions. I did say that I would come back to the Deputy on the Private Members' motion. I understand that a vote took place on that on 28 March. The Deputy may recall that a Minister of State took the debate for me. The report was due on 29 March and was given a one-week extension for fact checking. Therefore it was not practical to give effect to that. I did outline at the committee my view that this House had given its opinion, not once but twice, on the appropriateness of the site.

On cost saving, I need to be clear that we did ask PwC to identify potential costs. It did say that it was technically possible. I commit to the Deputy that I will discuss this with the board. However, PwC also said that it felt that the board's focus should now be on reducing further residual risks in terms of the costs rising. I will discuss with the board the report's suggestion that it may be technically possible. Neither the Deputy nor I would want to say anything that would undermine the clinical benefits of the project. I accept the Deputy's bona fides on that.

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