Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Chairman can expect me to pick up the pace, and I certainly will, but I expect to be held to account in respect of timelines to which the Committee on the Future of Healthcare adhered. The Chairman criticised the lack of an implementation plan for Sláintecare but the committee, on which he sat, asked me to produce one by the end of the year. As I indicated, a plan will be produced by the end of the year. I ask the Chairman to hold me to deadlines that have been established.

On the Chairman's fear that consultation will delay the process, perhaps the recommendation that we engage in consultation should not have been included in the Sláintecare report. Generally, it is a good idea to consult people who work in the health service and their representatives. This is also the finding made by the committee in its report.

Tomorrow evening, the Cabinet committee chaired by the Taoiseach will meet again in Government Buildings to discuss the issue of Sláintecare.

While the joint committee has privilege in this place, it is important that we do not misinterpret the reasons people move to new jobs. I am aware of the reasons for decisions made by individuals to move from one place to another. There is a legitimate issue with regard to capital funding. Mr. Richard Corbridge was an excellent chief information officer for the health service and I am very sorry we lost him. There are number of reasons for people's decisions to move to new jobs. As I outlined in my opening statement, we will double the capital budget.

The deadlines for legislation the Chairman stated I missed do not appear in the Sláintecare report until years 2 and 3 of the plan. I share the frustration expressed by the Chairman and, having spent so many hours working on Sláintecare, it is appropriate that he is committed to ensuring the report is implemented in full. I intend to assure him by my actions and through regular appearances before the joint committee to engage on Sláintecare. I welcome his clarification, if it was required, that this committee is the lead committee on the oversight of the Sláintecare report. The Chairman will hold me to account on this matter and I expect to be held to account. We will deliver Sláintecare. It is not a case of procrastination. The report states we should procrastinate in that we should draw up a draft implementation plan, which I will do.

On the issue of vested interests, when it comes to the public-private mix my view is crystal clear, as is the Taoiseach's view. He stated the Government does not believe the public private mix is appropriate and that Ireland is an outlier in terms of international norms. I want to see the public-private mix ended. It is my view that we should end private practice in public hospitals over the length of the Sláintecare plan. That is my genuine belief and it is also my policy. However, the reports asks that we do an impact study on the matter, which is what we will do. I take the Chairman's points.

In terms of vested interests and equity of access, we have equity of access issues in secondary care and we have access issues in primary care. I am determined to address these issues and Sláintecare is the best vehicle for doing so. I assure the committee of my commitment and that of the Government to working with it and delivering the plan.