Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Is the Minister not in a position to give greater clarity, rather than stating the date will be later this year? As I stated previously, a number of issues remain to be addressed before the NBP can be delivered. The committee is carrying out an investigation that must be completed before a contract can be signed. That can happen.

In light of the continued drip of information on the remaining bidder, which has taken place over the past two weeks, it is not unreasonable to expect that further revelations may come to light. For example, it appears that Mr. Peter Smyth, when he carried out his review, did not seek to resolve the presence of Mr. Frank McCourt of McCourt Global LLC at the meeting in New York. Could the Minister outline the issues that must be resolved before any contract is signed? Could he confirm that the Government has, to date, not committed to signing the final contract?

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