Simon Harris says there is ‘no going back’ on new children’s hospital project

Simon Harris says there is “no going back” on the new children’s hospital project.

The Minister for Health indicated this week that the government would not be re-tendering for the construction of the National Children’s Hospital. 

The estimated costs of the hospital have been the source of much controversy for the past few weeks with Harris recently apologising in the Dáil over a question he answered about the project last year.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Marian Finucane Show, he said that the government will continue to support the building of “…the hospital that children so desperately need.”

Minister for Health @SimonHarrisTD is live in studio on @MarianRTE (with Brendan O’Connor) for an in-depth interview. He will be talking about The National Children’s Hospital, protesters outside his home, the nurses strike and becoming a dad. #marian pic.twitter.com/T1LAxB4ZpZ

— RTÉ Radio 1 (@RTERadio1) February 16, 2019

Harris also said that he doesn’t believe that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar should need to clarify comments he made in the Dáil regarding contractors involved in the hospital project.

Contracting company BAM had written to the Taoiseach seeking clarification of his comments earlier on in the week.

“The Taoiseach made very clear in his statement that he wasn’t talking about any particular company and the record of the Dáil shows that,” said Harris.

“No one is blaming anyone here. What people are saying, including the Taoiseach, if there is an inquiry, can we let it look into the issues and see where it brings us.”