Results 7,661-7,680 of 26,351 for speaker:David Cullinane

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: He will recall there was a lot of frustration on the part of members at the lack of detail and clarity on timeframes for delivery and costs. We had indicated then that we would seek to have him back some time early this year. We left it until July and here we are now. We are hoping that we would have some clarity on costs and timeframes. However, it is disappointing that, according to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: Mr. Gunning's opening statement says the target completion date for the programme is 14 months later. I take it that means the new target completion date is October 2023. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: December 2023 is the estimated completion target date. Mr. Gunning says the goal of opening is in 2024. Which quarter of 2024?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: I understand that Mr. Gunning is giving us estimated figures. Just to be clear, the estimated, hoped-for or planned time for completion is December 2023 and the anticipated or hoped-for opening of the hospital will be in the second half of 2024, all going well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: I will get to the risk later. I am just seeking to establish what the estimated timeframes are. On the previous occasion Mr. Gunning appeared before the committee, I was one of the members who asked questions about the timeframe for delivery. He said at the time that he was not in a position to give the date at that point, but that he would be able to give me an answer to that question in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: Okay. I will come to the costs. The cost that was approved by the Cabinet was €1.433 billion. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: I am just looking for the number of how many have been settled.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: I am aware of all that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: When Mr. Gunning last appeared before the committee, he said approximately 600 claims were outstanding. He said in his statement that the dispute mechanisms have been paused to allow the focus to be on delivering the project. There is sense in that. Given that it is eight months since Mr. Gunning was last before the committee, how many of the 600 claims have been settled?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: I have to interrupt Mr. Gunning because, with respect, I am aware of all that. We have been through this time and again. We know what the process is. He told us earlier that the process or the dispute mechanisms for adjudicating on these claims have been paused, and that is fair enough. The previous time he was before the committee, he said there were an estimated 600 claims. Using the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: There is no commercial confidentiality or sensitivity here. If they are settled, they are settled.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: I find it unacceptable that Mr. Gunning cannot even give us a number and that he will not get into it. If they are settled, they are settled. There is a vacuum of accountability and transparency around this project. I want to get to the costs as well. When costs were put to Mr. Gunning on the previous occasion he was before the committee, he said: We are reporting and monitoring...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: Mr. Gunning is appearing before the committee to deal with all these issues. I will now address you, Chairman, because I am not at all happy with the letter we received from the Department either. If I am correct, we set out to both the board and the Department that we wanted this meeting to focus on two key issues - costs and timeframes. We received a letter back from the Department....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: Is it that Mr. Gunning does not know? Surely, as chair of the board, he knows how many claims have been settled.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: We will move on, but it is deeply unsatisfactory. We schedule our meetings to get the best return we can for the people who listen to the proceedings of the committee. The purpose of having committee meetings is that people can be held to account and to ensure there is accountability and transparency on projects. We were fair in giving as much time as possible for members of the board to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: When Mr. Gunning says "small", how many?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children's Hospital: Discussion (7 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: I know it is a live contract and I am not trying to be unfair to Mr. Gunning or anybody else. If he knows the information and is not prepared to give it to us, that is unacceptable. I am not asking for anything other than the number of claims that have been settled and the additional cost of those claims. Can he say why it is not possible for him to give me that information today?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Strategies (6 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: 56. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to advance an autism empowerment strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35503/21]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (6 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: 213. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason live music has been banned; if she has considered reviewing the decision and providing additional supports for musicians and businesses in the music industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36361/21]

Covid-19 Vaccine Roll-out: Statements (2 Jul 2021)

David Cullinane: For July. Obviously, that is an important start, but what we need to know then is where we stand in the following months. Getting that age cohort vaccinated is going to be key to ensuring that we can have a safe reopening everywhere, which we all want to see. It is important to outline not only information on those vaccines but also on the supply chains for the coming months. When the...