Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to make a suggestion. The critical difference between the €125 million of accelerated cash and the €74 million is that the latter has a direct impact in terms of both cash flow and cuts. In the current environment, I suggest that the HSE cuts a deal with the insurance companies to get money up front because of the potential impact of the cuts to front line services with winter upon us.

I commend the HSE on the €125 million of accelerated cash, which is an innovative measure. Circumstances are very difficult and there are enormous pressures on the HSE. The first task is to get the consultants to sign the forms. That is now under way, which I welcome. The deadline is 14 days from 5 November, so 19 November is the critical date. I call on the consultants to play their part in ensuring the forms are signed so that the impact on front line services can be minimised. Once those forms are completed, I ask the HSE to engage directly with the insurance companies to secure some form of an accelerated payment which is sufficient to enable the HSE to reduce the impact of the cuts that are now taking place.

I am seeking a commitment from Mr. Tony O'Brien, as the CEO of the HSE. I am putting my suggestion forward in a spirit of co-operation and in full awareness of the difficulties facing the health service. As a public representative, however, it would be remiss of me not to raise these issues. Can I take it from a management viewpoint that the HSE will proceed with first ensuring that the target date of 19 November is met? In that context, I again call on the consultants to make sure that happens because €74 million is at stake.

Some €74 million is at stake. Once this takes place, will the HSE actively engage with the insurance companies to come up with some formula to ensure that sufficient funds are received in an accelerated fashion before the end of the year? It would give the HSE leverage to reduce the burden of cuts on the ordinary people whom we represent and to whom the HSE provides a service.