Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is the world in which we live. I did not say that the current Taoiseach, the former Minister for Health, had or had not been informed, because I am not that person. What I have said is that it would not have been a decision made by the Minister of the day. It was an operational decision made by the HSE. That is all the information I have to hand. I have confirmed that information with my Secretary General. In terms of what people knew and did not know at a given time, I can only answer in respect of myself, but that is my understanding of it.

The Senator asked about Saolta costs. We will find out. The group structures are delivering benefits. Let us consider the RCSI hospital group, for example. The hospitals, including those in Beaumont, Drogheda and Cavan, are working together and pooling their patients to work on waiting lists and drive down waiting times. Synergies are being created between the hospitals in Roscommon and Galway. I will arrange for the information in respect of the costs to be provided to the Senator by the HSE. I do not have it to hand.