Fianna Fail must not allow him to remain in office

THE €450million cost overrun at the National Children’s Hospital is a gross mismanagement of taxpayers’ money. We cannot allow that situation to prevail without accountability.

This week it was revealed Health Minister Simon Harris was made aware of an overrun of €191million and a potential further overrun of €200million as far back as August 2018.

He failed to alert colleagues to this when the Government was planning this year’s budget.

In fact, he waited until after the budget was announced before telling them about this huge

hole in public finances. He should be removed from office. Leo Varadkar has expressed full confidence in Mr Harris so it is now over to Fianna Fail. They must stop protecting him.

The party had the wool pulled over their eyes during the confidence and supply talks. They are attempting to hide

behind brexit but the removal of a minister does not have to mean the collapse of government.

We need to hear from Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin. Mary Lou Mcdonald has written to him to ask he makes his position clear.

Will he stand over this mess and allow the minister to remain in place? Or will he stand with Sinn Fein in demanding accountability?

Sinn Fein is ready to move but Fianna Fail holds the numbers. The reality is we only need a number of Fianna Fail votes to pass a motion of no confidence.

We also need to know the knock-on effects of this cost overrun. What will it mean for other capital projects? Are other important pieces of infrastructure under threat as a result of this calamity?

This whole mess makes a mockery of Fine Gael’s claims to be the party of prudence. Fianna Fail needs to stop standing over this chaos.