Senior civil servant did not reveal hospital price rise

The Government’s chief procurement officer has confirmed that he did not inform Minister Paschal Donohoe or his secretary general about the cost escalations at the National Children’s Hospital project, even though he sat on its board.

Paul Quinn’s letter to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) comes after the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) earlier this month said that Mr Quinn was “obliged” to pass on such information.