John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not think anyone can contradict or disagree with the Chairman’s point because we deal with it so often at this committee and have done so for the past few years. It is incontrovertible, a recurring theme, etc. There is an issue that has arisen which we should consider. Deputy Costello asked what we should do about it. Beyond the procurement issue, some of these organisations - and the HSE is definitely one of them - commission reports that never see the light of day. In many cases the reports deal with management issues and decisions that were taken by the very people who commission those reports. They redact them and bury them. In the interests of the public good, somebody needs to examine the policy of these reports and whether an independent pair of eyes should be allowed to make the decision as to whether they are published and what material should or should not be redacted. Then we will have accountability.

Some of these Government agencies and entities do it as a matter of course when a really hard-hitting and serious issue arises with regard to bad decisions at management level. They commission these reports and satisfy themselves that they have done their job and considered it after the fact and these reports never see the light of day. I do not know if the Minister for Health, the Secretary General or senior officials in the Department obtain sight of the HSE reports. At this point, it is a step that should be considered because I do not think the public is well served or that there is value for money with regard to the money spent on these reports, particularly when one considers the serious issues with which they deal.

It is a recurring theme. Deputy Costello asked what do we do policy-wise. That is a step we should consider and see what step we can take with regard to the commissioning of these reports and their ultimate publication, and whether the public is getting value for money with regard to what is being spent on these reports. Considering the serious issues we have dealt with here in the past year, it is a reasonable step to take.