Results 121-140 of 6,020 for speaker:Martin Conway

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: It does.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: Is it fair to say Mr. Gunning has lost all confidence in BAM?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: I understand and totally appreciate Mr. Gunning's frustration with that, but those watching have a realistic expectation of an indication from Mr. Gunning as to when. At this stage, we need to be as honest with people as possible. I believe Mr. Gunning is being, but it is realistic to expect that it will be at least 2027 before children will be treated in the hospital. One more delay would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: The confidence.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: What about the 15% the NPHDB is retaining? Can that be increased under the contract?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: Mr. Gunning does not need to because if the answer is "No", it is "No" and it is in the contract.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: I am interested in getting to understand the NPHDB's engagement with the Department of Health and the Minister. How regularly over recent months has Mr. Gunning met the Minister, the Secretary General or both within the Department to keep them apprised of this and to brief them on this developing situation? It would appear the Minister was only in a position to brief the Cabinet and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: Would she have weekly or biweekly meetings with the Minister?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: I thank Mr. Gunning for our engagement this morning. I do not have any confidence that the project will not go further over budget and there will not be further delays, unfortunately.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: I agree.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: That is fine. Since-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: I agree with the Deputy's description of it as not a standard public works contract. Even those have issues at the moment. There is one just outside in the car park called the bike shed. This is something an awful lot more serious. It is the biggest capital commitment the Irish taxpayer has made in history, or certainly recent history. It is still mind-blowing to think no room is yet up...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: Mr. Devine is saying there is not a single room in the hospital that does anything that has been handed over yet. Not a kitchen or anything. It is just mind-blowing. On the disputed claims, one of the board's spreadsheets gives a figure of €497 million and then one of €957 million. Is it the case the board agrees there is a potential liability of €497 million,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: Has BAM acknowledged that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: Surely that is a simple thing all parties could agree. If that cannot be agreed then we will have serious problems in the immediate future. Would Mr. Gunning agree?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: We have to be somewhat fair to BAM because it has not had the opportunity to come in and give its side of the story. I am trying to put myself in the contractor's shoes. I imagine it is having huge difficulty retaining staff in the current employment market. Would that be part of the reason? What explanations have been given to the board for BAM not committing the resources expected?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: I think we would all like to acknowledge the people on the BAM side of the equation as well. They are important people and important in terms of getting this project delivered. Going back to what I asked earlier, what is the final cost of this going to be? It is going to be well north of €2.5 billion and I fear we could hit €3 billion. I also fear we are looking at 2027 or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: Therein lies the problem. BAM is telling the board that it is committing what it deems, and these are Mr. Gunning's words, to be the appropriate resources. Therein lies the problem. BAM is saying one thing, namely, that it is committing the appropriate resources. Mr. Gunning is saying it is not. How are we going to resolve this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: Assuming that BAM continues to commit just 60% resources, we are talking about adding another four or five months to the handover date, if it continues as it is today.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Update on Construction of New National Children's Hospital: National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (25 Sep 2024)

Martin Conway: In all fairness, if you are building a house and the builder tells you he is going to hand it over in June you would be hoping he would but be expecting it might be a couple of months later. If we are talking about a children's hospital of this size, I do not think anyone on this committee believes it will be handed over any time before 2026. If Mr. Gunning is being honest, and he...