Results 21-40 of 1,084,604 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Máiría Cahill OR speaker:John Lahart OR speaker:David Cullinane OR speaker:Christopher O'Sullivan OR speaker:Joan Collins OR speaker:Stephen Donnelly OR speaker:Simon Coveney OR speaker:Norma Foley OR speaker:Neasa Hourigan OR speaker:Michael Lowry OR speaker:Kieran O'Donnell OR speaker:Joe O'Brien OR speaker:Francis Noel Duffy OR speaker:Claire Kerrane)

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

David Cullinane: Did the Minister put it to them that they committed to 1,700 productive operatives but, according to the board, that they only provided, on average, 774? Essentially, the board and the Minister have been telling us that BAM is not committing the resources and this is why the completion dates have been missed. Did BAM accept, when the Minister met them last week, that it was the case they...

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)

David Cullinane: But why not? The Minister went to great lengths to write to his Cabinet colleagues. I am not sure what the value was of doing that but the Minister sent a letter to his Cabinet colleagues, and while the Minister may not have used this language it was reported by the media as BAM holding the country to ransom. Those were the headlines coming out. The Minister did meet with the parent...

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)

David Cullinane: The second figure we have, again according to the board, was that since last September 2023 BAM has on average achieved 64% of its plan. Did the Minister put this to the parent company?

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)

David Cullinane: I accept that, but I am also hearing from the Minister that they certainly were not agreeing with what the board was saying about BAM not fully resourcing the project. If BAM are not even prepared to accept the facts the board has presented to us, then how can I, the Minister, or anybody else on this committee have any confidence in what they are now telling us, which is that they will still...

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)

David Cullinane: Perhaps I could just come back in. This project strikes to the heart of the credibility of the State in relation to how it funds and delivers big projects. There have been acres of coverage on this children's hospital and all of its failures. My focus is on getting the hospital built. I want it built for children. I publicly called on the contractor to do what is right and resource the...

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)

David Cullinane: It told us that 16 months ago.

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

David Cullinane: I held on for a long time.

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)

David Cullinane: The Minister does not need to hide behind the chair of the board. People will make up their own minds on his performance. I will leave it there. It was not appropriate to ask the chair essentially to answer a charge that I believe stands up or to cover the Minister's back.

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)

David Cullinane: It was for the Minister to answer.

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)

David Cullinane: My charge was that the Minister did not meet the contractor over the course of two years, which he did not.

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...