Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is a major factor and I think it needs to be drilled down into by this committee. In the days after I asked that question of hospital groups, I heard many people in management positions, both current and retired, say that this is a major barrier to Sláintecare delivery. Not everything is about how many beds, what trolley capacity and what acute capacity hospitals have. Sometimes a helmsman or helmswoman is needed. If there are morale issues on which those at the helm are supposed to be leading - there are major morale issues that have not been addressed here - then surely that is a factor? We have not gone into that properly today.

There is a lack of clarity in regard to the Government’s arrangements that replaced the Sláintecare implementation advisory council, which was shut down following the resignations of Professor Keane and Ms Magahy in September 2021. The oversight role has effectively been taken out. This is not good corporate governance and it is not in line with best practice. The HSE and the Department of Health overall do not have the best track record when it comes to corporate governance. For example, the HSE was left without an independent board for several years and places on the board comprised, inter alia, senior officials of the Department of Health. It was also chaired by the Secretary General.