Results 141-160 of 1,068,934 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:Brendan Griffin OR speaker:Danny Healy-Rae OR speaker:Peter Burke)

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

Stephen Donnelly: My very clear understanding is that the answer is "Yes". I will ask Ms Ross to speak to the matter as well.

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

David Cullinane: I want to deal with the funding side. I am aware that some of this was dealt with earlier, but I want to circle back on some of the issues that were raised. There is a huge number of outstanding claims. BAM has placed a value of about €800 million or whatever on these. That has been disputed by the Minister, the State and, obviously, the board. Where we have total agreement is...

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

Stephen Donnelly: That is right.

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

David Cullinane: It is my understanding - the Minister might confirm this - that those claims centred around delays. While the total ask from BAM or the value BAM put on it might have been double what was awarded it was still awarded €108 million. How in God's name was it awarded €108 million if, as the board has stated, the delays were almost entirely or exclusively down to the contractor?...

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

David Cullinane: I am sorry, I asked the Minister.

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

Stephen Donnelly: The award for €107 million or €108 million is contested very strongly by the board.

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

David Cullinane: I know it is, and it can be appealed to the court. The standing conciliator made a recommendation or however you want to put it. The conciliator adjudicated and made a recommendation in the amount of €108 million. The board contested this. I accept all of that. I went through this with the board. It was, however, the decision of the standing conciliator. Is that correct? The...

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

Stephen Donnelly: It was the recommendation.

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

David Cullinane: Ultimately, any of these claims may well end up in the court. It could be the High Court that decides this claim or any others if they are not resolved. Neither the Minister, Ms Ross, Mr. Tierney nor can guarantee what a court is going to do. If the matter goes to court and there is about €800 million in claims involved, it is conceivably possible or probable, given the...

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

Stephen Donnelly: The Deputy asks if there an amount included against full and final awards. There is. In addition, in the context of the Government decision, there is freedom - or whatever the right word is - such that the board is authorised to reach a full and final agreement.

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

David Cullinane: My question is more straightforward. Hypothetically, the matter could go to court and there could be a judgment. We do not know what the amount involved might be. How can the Minister guarantee that it will not go above €2.2 billion? Surely it is impossible to say because it is out of his hands, my hands or anybody else's hands.

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

Stephen Donnelly: There has been a thorough evaluation of the claims. The recommendation of €107 million or €108 million is strongly contested. The board will bring that to court if necessary. The view of the board is that it has a very strong case in that regard. The total amount that has been agreed against €863 million is €31 million. The Deputy will appreciate that I am not...

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

David Cullinane: I ask the Minister to hear me out. I am not saying it is the wrong strategy. The Minister and the board have told us not a penny more will be paid. Either BAM walks away from its claim or a deal is done. I asked the board if there was a possibility of a deal and was told it did not see it or it would go to court. Does anybody see the contractor walking away from it? No. The Minister...

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

Stephen Donnelly: I can understand where the Deputy is coming from. On a number of occasions, he has made the charge that I am hands-off. There are many things I can be fairly accused of in my time as Minister for Health, and I have made plenty of mistakes. The Deputy would be hard-pressed to find someone in the Department or the HSE who would have considered what I have done in the past four to five years...

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

David Cullinane: I just want another 20 seconds.

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

David Cullinane: I am not suggesting the Minister go into every single detail, but cover the headline issues of feet on the ground, the data we have been presented with and rooms not completed. Those certainly should have been front and centre.

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

Stephen Donnelly: I apologise for interrupting. Those details were discussed.

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

David Cullinane: That is what I meant.

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

Stephen Donnelly: Sorry. That is okay.

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

John Lahart: I echo the Minister's appreciation for the workforce. I think I speak for all of us who have been down there when I say that the employees, both from the board and the contractor, clearly have one aim in mind. They are very proud of their work. Deputy Kelly referred to the conciliator and confidence in the conciliator. I do not want to dwell on this matter. He is saying that David...