"Minister for Health Blames The NPHDB For Signing Childrens Hospital Contract But Ignores Department Decision Makers"

"Minister for Health Blames The NPHDB For Signing Childrens Hospital Contract But Ignores Department Decision Makers" - Tóibín

In a PQ response to Aontú leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín, the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has blamed the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board for signing the contract for the National Children’s Hospital with BAM. But according to an Teachta Tóibín, “this ignores the decision makers within the Department of Health”. An Teachta Tóibín stated:

“If we are to prevent this magnitude of government waste from happening again, we need to ensure accountability. Its clear that the tender document for the National Children’s Hospital was so lacking in detail, timescales and penalties that the whole project has turned into a national nightmare. In a response to an Aontú parliamentary question the Minister has stated “the contract, signed between NPHDB and BAM in August 2017, allowed the below ground works (Phase A) to commence immediately. Prior to proceeding to the award of Phase B, the above ground construction, further approval was sought from Government and received in December 2018”. But the Minister is studiously avoiding indicating who within government gave the go ahead of for the tender contract to be issued and who within government gave the approval for Phase B”.

“This tender contract would have had to have been signed off at departmental level also. I believe that it would have had to have been signed off by the Secretary General of the Department and the Minister for Health at the time, who was Simon Harris. I have issued another PQ to the Minister for health to ask “who or at what rank was the person within the Department of Health that signed off of the tender contract for the National Children’s Hospital and what was the name of the Minister for Health who signed off on the National Children’s Hospital”?

“It is my view that we need full transparency and accountability immediately. Without accountability, we are cursed to see citizens taxes incinerated through waste over and over again. If the government does not ensure that there is full accountability, there will be accountability in the ballot box”.

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.