Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Senator may call it pie in the sky but let the record show those comments in due course. That is the intention and has been the intention.

With regard to the site, the Senator talked about accountability and standing over the decision. I did not pick the site and I was not a member of the Government when the site was picked, but I fully support it. It was a decision taken after great scrutiny and great debate following consideration of the Mater site and the €40 million wasted there. It was democratically tested in the Houses of the Oireachtas. When I was not long Minister, and before construction had started, some Independent colleagues of the Senator's, perhaps, tabled a Private Members' motion in the other House asking that the location be changed. The Dáil, democratically elected by the popular vote of the people, and a Chamber of these Houses, voted to reject that motion.