Results 5,221-5,240 of 6,020 for speaker:Martin Conway

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (13 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: They are from Blanchardstown and Clontarf.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Parking Provision (13 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: I thank the Senator for raising a very important issue and for the great work she does as chair of the Oireachtas committee on dementia.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Eligibility (13 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: I sincerely thank the Minister of State for giving his time this morning to respond to the Commencement matters. It is much appreciated by the House.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: Like everybody else, I thank Mr. Martin Groves and all the staff in the Houses of the Oireachtas for their ongoing courtesy, decency and hard work in supporting the work we do. I have a couple of issues. I raised a number of months ago through a Commencement matter the long-awaited and committed to pilot sewage schemes from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on New National Children’s Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (12 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: I thank the board members for attending. I think we are all agreed on one thing, namely, the absolute importance of this project being delivered. By how much has the project gone over budget in real figures?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on New National Children’s Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (12 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: What was the projected expenditure to date?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on New National Children’s Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (12 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: I am trying to figure out the facts as regards by how much the project has gone over budget so far, in millions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on New National Children’s Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (12 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on New National Children’s Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (12 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: Fine. The board tells us there are claims worth €750 million.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on New National Children’s Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (12 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: Let us look at the worst-case scenario for a moment and assume the contractor would win its claim in all cases. What is the projected worst-case cost of the children's hospital.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on New National Children’s Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (12 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: Hang on a second. I am not asking Mr. Gunning whether he thinks the board will win or lose. I am asking what the potential liability to the taxpayer is in the worst-case scenario. I need a figure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on New National Children’s Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (12 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: How much is that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on New National Children’s Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (12 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: I know. I am giving Mr. Gunning the opportunity to reflect on why he is not prepared to share that figure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on New National Children’s Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (12 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: I am giving another opportunity.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on New National Children’s Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (12 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: Will Mr. Gunning elaborate on what exactly he meant when he said he was going to disappoint me?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on New National Children’s Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (12 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: Mr. Gunning is saying he is not prepared to give us the worst-case scenario cost to the taxpayer were the contractor to be successful in the vast majority of its claims.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on New National Children’s Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (12 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: While I would expect the board to do that-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on New National Children’s Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (12 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: -----I still think the board has a responsibility to plan for the worst-case scenario and to have a figure for it, bearing in mind this project is funded by the taxpayer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on New National Children’s Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (12 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: I am not an actuary but it seems that were the contractor to be successful in the vast majority of these claims, the final figure would be approximately €2.5 billion. The contractor will obviously make claims for which it has grounds. It would not spend money making claims worth €750 million unless it felt it had some grounds.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on New National Children’s Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (12 Jul 2023)

Martin Conway: Is €2.5 billion reasonable?