Results 21-40 of 1,062,095 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Michael McGrath OR speaker:Carol Nolan OR speaker:Seán Canney OR speaker:Niall Collins OR speaker:Willie O'Dea OR speaker:Claire Kerrane OR speaker:Stephen Donnelly OR speaker:Martin Browne OR speaker:Brendan Howlin OR speaker:Colm Brophy OR speaker:Aindrias Moynihan OR speaker:Maurice Quinlivan) in 'Committee meetings'

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: They did not disagree.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: No. The Deputy's first question was whether I had put it to them. It was not exactly as the Deputy has said, but I did make it very clear that the view of the Government and the view of the board was that the project-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: We had a very clear and forthright discussion. Just before the Deputy came back in I said that, yes, I had very clearly put it them that it is our view the project was consistently and substantially under-resourced. I did not use those exact figures but the same point the Deputy is making was very clearly delivered.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: We had a very clear discussion about the under-resourcing. I just want to use my language carefully because I do not want to put words in the mouth of the chief executive of Royal BAM. I am very happy to say to the Deputy what I had put to him but I do not think it would be fair for me to say that he accepted or did not accept that. BAM have their own view and I imagine if the committee...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: As it happens, the question the Deputy just asked me is more or less exactly the question I put to their chief executive, which was that BAM's UK-Ireland operation has missed its deadline 14 times and missed its deadline four times this year so why should I believe that June is not going to be the 15th missed deadline. I asked for Royal BAM to stand over that date. I said that I cannot have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: With the Cathaoirleach's permission can we take a bit longer? It is a charge the Deputy has made many times. I have no issue with the charge and I fully appreciate why the Deputy would make it. I will answer directly the Deputy's first question as to the timing of the meeting with Royal BAM. Then, rather than hearing from me about my involvement in the project, I will ask Ms Ross, as the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: That is why. With the Chair's permission, I will ask Ms Ross to give a view as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: May I respond? With respect, it is a charge the Deputy has made many times. I answered it here directly and I have answered it many times.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I did. I have no problem doing so and I do not blame the Deputy for asking the question. This is the chair of the board's first appearance before the committee. The Deputy has made the charge many times. It is not reasonable to suggest that asking for the board's view on the Deputy's challenge is inappropriate.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I hope it was a productive meeting. Let us see what comes out of it. The message I delivered to Royal BAM Group was that the Government and I could not have confidence in a June deadline being reported to us by BAM UK and BAM Ireland and I requested that Royal BAM Group stand over that date. We discussed the fact that BAM has had a good relationship with the Irish State on other capital...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: The upshot of the meeting was that Royal BAM Group said it would stand over the June deadline. It has agreed to have intensive engagement with its UK and Ireland operation and with Ms Ross, Mr. Gunning and the rest of the board so that there is a project, for which the board and the independent assessor can say they have confidence the deadline can be met. Second, we have also agreed to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: It was certainly raised at the meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I do not want to characterise its responses, but the Deputy will appreciate that it did not enter the meeting accepting that it was fully at fault for everything.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: It is and I stand over it. Obviously, it is something it would dispute.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I do not want to mischaracterise things. These matters were raised over the course of a long meeting. I will not put words in Royal BAM Group's mouth. I think it would be fair to say that I imagine if it were here, it would dispute it. I can be more helpful than that. It wrote a letter in response, in which it refuted that allegation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I think it was BAM Ireland, but I would have to check.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: It has committed to the June deadline. There are several moving parts. As the Deputy mentioned, it includes the compliance work schedule. The board also believes there is a need for more senior management to be on site.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: The commitment was that Royal BAM Group would review the full proposal and come back with one it can stand over.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: I think it is.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)

Stephen Donnelly: In fairness-----