Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

That brings up digital health again.

An important question has been asked. What are the blockages? There is no doubt there is institutional resistance, as there is for any major change programme. It has to be recognised that institutional resistance is a thing and a response made to it. That has not been taken on board and there is not a recognition of that and the need to work around it.

Another thing that cannot be ignored is vested interests. Many individuals, companies and organisations are making a lot of money out of private healthcare in this country. They are working against reform because it is in their commercial interests to maintain the two-tier system. That has to be put up there as an issue and blockage. We have got back to this a few times today: the political system has to deal with that and there has to be political will to address both of those blockages.

We spoke on the importance of the implementation office. The work done by that office was really good on many fronts. One role it played was its staff went out and engaged with the community and with staff. Where are the people who were involved in that? Were they on temporary contracts? Are they still in the Department?