Dr. Sara Burke:

My understanding and my read is only from what is in the public domain about Ms Magahy.

She was the lead knowledge user on my research project, so I worked closely with her. I have had personal interactions with her since then but have not discussed the details of this.

My read on it is that during Covid, much more money was allocated throughout the health system, and while about half of it related to Covid, about half of it could be also considered as relating to Sláintecare implementation and, in particular, to the areas she cited, namely, the roll-out of the regional structures, digital health and waiting lists. Big money was put in and there was a big push on implementation. Ms Magahy was deputy secretary general in the Department of Health and was leading on the reform programme but, in fact, it is the Health Service Executive that will deliver on that reform. She was given responsibility, therefore, without the authority to deliver on it. For me, that is the crux of the matter and it is why I raised the issue of governance.