I move amendment No. 5:
In page 5, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following new subsection:
"(4) The guidelines referred to in subsection (3) shall require in respect of each project where a public private partnership is anticipated that an assessment shall be published in advance of the following:
(a) the principles underpinning the pricing policy to be pursued,
(b) the provisions which will apply in the event that the project does not fulfil its revenue expectations for the private partner,
(c) the method whereby the cost performance and physical progress of the project will be reported on a quarterly basis to the Oireachtas,
(d) the cost benefit analysis and the analysis of the benefit of a public private partnership over an exclusive publicly funded alternative approach.”.
This amendment reflects expressions made by Senators during the debate on Second Stage regarding the possibility of private companies withdrawing from public private partnerships or suffering financial difficulties and being unable to maintain their part of the partnership. If, for example, a hospital was built by a public private partnership and was subsequently unprofitable, which caused the private partner to withdraw, what would the Government do? This amendment is intended to take account of such a possibility.