Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The deadlines to which the Deputy refers have all been submitted by BAM at different times. I am not sure whether he is saying we should go straight to the High Court or Supreme Court and suspend all work on the project. I do not know if that is the Deputy's suggestion to the Government. Our objective is to get the hospital completed as quickly as we possibly can. BAM has submitted about 2,782 claims, of which 2,182 have been substantiated at a value of approximately €785 million. That is the value assigned by BAM. Approximately 1,890 of those claims have been determined by the ER with the net result being an increase in the contract sum of approximately €22.8 million. In respect of BAM submitting, by their own account, €785 million, we have arbitrated every one of them. That takes time and tenacity but that is how we are doing it. In the first instance we are going to make sure the taxpayer gets value for money. We also want the hospital completed as quickly as possible. We are not going to roll over in the contractual engagements with BAM as the Deputy seems to be suggesting.

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