Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I did not hear what the gentleman said. It seems as if the Muppet Show is up in the balcony, shouting down.

When PPARS began, the estimated cost was €9 million, now it is €200 million. Senator Jim Walsh can joke about it if he likes but it is a very serious matter. The point is that the problem was not picked up until seven years later, when the Health Service Executive said "Stop the lights" on discovery of the excessive cost. It is a shocking indictment of the Department and the Minister that this was not picked up long before now. The Tánaiste should come to this House to outline the lessons that have been learned because we all know there is an attitude within the public service regarding expenditure. Quite often spending drags on and on, even if a project is losing money or haemorrhaging resources. When private industry is losing money, it stops spending and heads roll. I am convinced that people in the public service involved in this project were promoted, despite the inefficiency over many years.