BAM criticises health minister over comments on National Children's Hospital
BAM, the construction firm building the National Children's Hospital, has criticized Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill for her public comments regarding project delays. The firm defended its track record and expressed frustration over the minister's questioning of their ability to meet handover timelines.
Why it matters
The public spat between a major contractor and a government minister underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding high-profile, delayed public infrastructure projects.
The minister for health had questioned the timeframes provided by BAM as to the handover date for the National Children's Hospital.
National Children’s Hospital builder BAM privately criticised health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill over an interview with RTÉ in which she took aim at continuing delays to the project.
In a letter to the health minister dated April 29, BAM chief operating officer John Wilkinson said he was “disappointed” to hear Ms Carroll MacNeill’s comments about the builder during an interview on Prime Time .
“While differences of opinion in relation to areas such as programme and resourcing are entirely legitimate, it is unfortunate that your statements on BAM’s capability to deliver hospitals and healthcare facilities did not reflect our documented track record,” Mr Wilkinson wrote.
Ms Carroll MacNeill had questioned the timeframes provided by BAM as to the handover date.
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