Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That concludes our consideration of correspondence. The next item of business is our work programme. At our meeting on 19 January, we agreed our work programme for January and February. We want to continue the practice of trying to plan at least six or seven weeks out to give everybody, the witnesses and the secretariat, a chance to get their ducks lined up.

Next week, we will engage with the HSE to resume examination of its 2021 financial statements, with a focus on expenditure on disability services, including the provision of disability services by outside agencies, which are generally section 38 and 39 organisations; emergency care; and measures to tackle waiting lists. At our meeting last week, we agreed to include GP services, in particular out-of-hours services, and funding of voluntary disability services agencies on the agenda. Members may recall I mentioned at the last meeting that I have been told there are six different models for providing that out-of-hours service. The Taoiseach confirmed the other day that it is a bit ad hoc. I do not want to misquote him but he seemed to indicate it is very fragmented. I remind members that we agreed to defer consideration of the business of the committee for 2 February 2023 to facilitate attendance by members when the President of the European Parliament, Ms Roberta Metsola, will be addressing a joint sitting of the Dáil and the Seanad.

On 9 February, we will engage with the Department of Health regarding its 2021 appropriation account as well as chapter 12 of the report on the accounts of the public services 2021 on the financial impact of the cyberattack. We have advised the Department that a specific area of interest is expenditure on emergency departments.

On 16 February, we will resume our engagement with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with a specific focus on direct provision expenditure, international protection and emergency accommodation. Members have billions there to get their teeth into, in case Deputy McAuliffe thinks we are dealing with small change here. His point was well made.

On 23 February, we are planning to engage with the Central Bank and to request representatives from the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and Department of Finance. The Central Bank has been notified and the secretariat has not yet received confirmation regarding its availability.