Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yet again, we see not just a grossly incompetent Government, but one that is entirely unprepared to take responsibility, much less to be accountable, for anything. It is the board's fault. It is the contractor's fault. Of course, it is Sinn Féin's fault. How could it not be?

Let me recite this again. On 17 occasions, the completion date has fallen through. There is an overspend of €1.5 billion. According to the CEO of the board, not a single room has been completed to the required standard in this project. That is his account of things. Most importantly, the hospital is not open and not one child has been treated.

I asked the Minister a direct question. I asked him what he and the Government, as the custodians of the public purse and the people ultimately accountable, are doing to provide access to this healthcare for our children? I can only surmise from his response that the Government is, in fact, doing nothing.

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