Results 2,501-2,520 of 7,961 for speaker:Imelda Munster

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: Financial Statements 2020 (16 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: If the worst came to the worst, and we hope it does not, that €585 million will be an additional cost. There will be the €1.43 billion and if the worst comes to the worst, the claims will amount to €585 million. On top of that, there will be construction inflation and the additional costs associated with equipment, etc. as outlined earlier. There is a very real...

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: Financial Statements 2020 (16 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: But the cost is heading in that direction.

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: Financial Statements 2020 (16 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: It is our job to protect the public purse and to monitor spending. Let us be honest, a dog's dinner has been made of the project thus far. There is a very real possibility that this hospital, which is on track to be the most expensive hospital in the world, might achieve that status and more by eventually costing in the region of €2.5 billion.

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: Financial Statements 2020 (16 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: I hope that the next time Mr. Gunning appears before the committee he does not have to tell us that the cost has risen as I have predicted. The brand new hospital will be state-of-the-art, which is great. Everyone is looking forward to its opening, and the facilities it will offer. The Sláintecare reforms envisage ending the practice of treating private patients in public hospitals....

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: Financial Statements 2020 (16 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: Fair enough.

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: Financial Statements 2020 (16 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: That is fine. So, there will not be an issue with returning-----

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: Financial Statements 2020 (16 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: If I could just finish on this point. Am I correct in saying that according to Dr. Curtis, there will not be an issue, contractual or otherwise, in returning the rooms to public use?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: Financial Statements 2020 (16 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: Does Dr. Curtis agree that the use of rooms for private practice flies in the face of the Sláintecare recommendations?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: Financial Statements 2020 (16 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: Is it the case that there is no legacy agreement that the hospital will have to abide by as a brand spanking new public hospital?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: Financial Statements 2020 (16 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: The fact that the rooms are identical in style or design is not the point. Dr. Curtis mentioned that it was part of the contractual requirements.

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: Financial Statements 2020 (16 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: I will finish on this point. Dr. Curtis mentioned that the use of rooms for private outpatient clinics was part of the contractual requirements. Where did that requirement come from?

Public Accounts Committee: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board: Financial Statements 2020 (16 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: Is there anybody present who could explain that?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: I am just reading Mr. Fenn’s report to the effect that the sector has seen a much faster rebound in tourism than anyone would have previously anticipated resulting in a very strong recovery in demand that far exceeded all forecasts. That is great news with which I am sure he would agree.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: I just wanted Mr. Fenn to acknowledge that that in itself was good news for the sector and the industry. Why, then, are there such extortionate room rates being charged and why is there such price gouging?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: Mr. Fenn can speak in general. He has given a report today and has quoted prices in his report from various countries on hotel average room rates. Of course he can comment-----

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: ----- he represents the industry and is out there looking for supports and VAT reductions and that sort of thing.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: There is price gouging and extortionate room rates. Mr. Fenn can make a general comment because he would look quite silly if her were to sit here and fail to acknowledge the extortionate room rates that are being charged at the moment and the price gouging that is going on within the industry.

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: I heard Mr. Fenn say that a moment ago. Again, I will give Mr. Fenn an example and he can check it out any day of the week. Just this morning, for one night for a room in the second week of July for Dublin, the cheapest rate was €379, with no breakfast. The price for a four star hotel room in Madrid was €120 and for a four star room in Lisbon was €141. Paris was...

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: I do not know how anybody could justify that but can Mr. Fenn justify it?

Joint Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Rising Cost of Tourist Accommodation: Discussion (15 Jun 2022)

Imelda Munster: As the industry representative, he can comment as I have just given him a comparison. I can give him further examples which are actually worse and more embarrassing for the industry. I am talking about the industry which Mr. Fenn represents and asking him if he can justify rooms which are three times, or two and a half times, more expensive than other European hotel rooms when other such...