Results 8,481-8,500 of 10,878 for speaker:Matt Carthy

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (14 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: 474. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding allocated to and drawn down under the beef data genomics programme 2019 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38540/21]

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: Is it fair to say that the position of the board is that it will not give an updated cost of the project?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: Does the board have a definitive estimate?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: No.

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: Does the board have an upper limit in terms of an estimate of how much this project could potentially cost?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: The board has, I presume, analysed the claims and assessed the likelihood of any of them being successful or otherwise and, looking at inflation, it has an idea as to what the maximum cost of this project will be?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: Has the board shared that information with the Department of Health?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: That is as clear as mud. Mr. Gunning said the board shared information a number of months ago and also that it continues to share information. Which is it? Does the Department of Health have the current likely maximum figure?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: Does the board engage with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform? Is that Department aware of the figures?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: Let me put my question to Ms Prendergast. Is she satisfied the Department of Health is aware of the maximum estimated cost at this stage?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: I am sorry to interrupt Ms Prendergast but the time is very limited. Is she satisfied the Department is aware of the projected upper limit cost of this project?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: Is that information shared with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: In essence, is it the Department's case today that it cannot divulge that information due to commercial sensitivities?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: In 2016, however, the Department was able to inform us the estimated cost was approximately €800 million. In 2018, it was able to tell us the estimated cost was €983 million. In December 2019, the Department was able to inform us the estimated cost was €1.43 billion. Was the Department not cognisant of commercial sensitivities at those times?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: Does Ms Prendergast have any idea how crazy it sounds that the Department was able to give an estimated cost before, and at the early stages of, a project but, in the heart of that project, which has been severely delayed, commercial sensitivities mean the people who will be paying for this hospital, namely, the taxpayers of Ireland, cannot be informed as to what the potential maximum cost...

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: Is it the case, then, that it is only when the bill comes in that the public will be told how much they are on the hook for?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: My point is that we, as a committee, have an obligation on behalf of the taxpayers to ensure there is good value for money. It is impossible to determine whether there is good value for money when we have no idea as to what the maximum cost will be. Does Ms Prendergast accept now that this was a really bad contract for Irish taxpayers in terms of the original negotiation with BAM Ireland?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: Even though we began with an initial cost of €800 million and we could potentially, and very likely, exceed €2 billion in terms of the overall cost?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: It would be helpful if some clarity could be given.

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: 2019 Financial Statement (Resumed) (13 Jul 2021)

Matt Carthy: I will come in again later.