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

Could I make a suggestion? There is a lot in the report and I thank the Comptroller and Auditor General and the staff in the office for putting it together. It is very clear and very easy to read and work with. I am finding it a great aid in trying to get my head around the issues from that period.

There is a plan in place to deal with waiting list issues that has funding of approximately €360 million. The National Treatment Purchase Fund and the cross-border healthcare directive will all come into it. We know that waiting lists are now a life and death issue. There is pent-up demand because of Covid. Many people have been on waiting lists for a long time. There is a value for money issue. What way will the €360 million be deployed? By the time the HSE comes before us it will be off the starting blocks. It would be a useful exercise to find out the progress of previous cash injections to deal with waiting lists and what lessons were learned and are being implemented in this.