Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)

I welcome everyone to the Joint Committee on Health. Today, the committee will consider the management of waiting lists for hospital treatment and the insourcing and outsourcing of such treatment. To commence our consideration of this matter, from the HSE I welcome Mr. Bernard Gloster, chief executive; Ms Sandra Broderick, regional executive officer for HSE mid-west; Mr. Stephen Mulvany, chief financial officer; Dr. Colm Henry, chief clinical officer; and Ms Sheila McGuinness, director of HSE access and integration. From the National Treatment Purchase Fund, I welcome Ms Fiona Brady, chief executive officer; Ms Alison Green, director of waiting list governance and reform; and Ms Bernadette Weir, director of commissioning. The witnesses are all very welcome to the committee and I thank them for attending.

I will start with a note on privilege. Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in such speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where he or she is not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any Member who attempts to participate from outside the precinct will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask members taking part via Microsoft Teams to confirm, prior to making a contribution to the meeting, that they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

As I said, the focus of today's meeting is on waiting lists, in particular outsourcing, insourcing and the potential misuse of public funds. As a committee, we were concerned about the HSE's growing reliance on the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, to address long waiting lists. By way of context and background, the NTPF was set up as a short-term measure more than 20 years ago. Its funding has since increased to €230 million. The committee also had concerns about the recent allegations on the misuse of the NTPF, including an apparent lack of oversight and insourcing arrangements.

A HSE report on insourcing and outsourcing was published by the Minister late yesterday evening. I circulated it to members as soon as I became aware of it. This report is welcome and I note the significant recommendation it made to end insourcing by 30 June next year.

I have no doubt this will form the basis of much of our discussion today. As I indicated previously to the Minister for Health, it is difficult for the committee to fully consider these reports without adequate time and it would be appreciated in future if the committee was given more time to consider these key reports in advance of meetings.

To commence our considerations of the matter, I invite Mr. Gloster to make the HSE's opening statement.