Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)

I advise 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 when they are not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, a member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. I ask any members partaking on MS Teams that prior to making their contribution to the meeting, they confirm that they are on the grounds of the Leinster House complex.

Members 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 speech that may be regarded as damaging to the good name of a 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. Is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

The minutes of the meetings of 23 and 24 September have been circulated. Are they agreed? Agreed.

The committee will consider the management of waiting lists for hospital treatment and of the insourcing and outsourcing of such treatments. In July, the HSE appeared before the health committee to discuss waiting lists, in particular insourcing and outsourcing arrangements. Ahead of that meeting, the Minister for Health published the HSE’s review of insourcing and outsourcing activity within the HSE. The review identified a combined spend of €1.1 billion on insourcing and outsourcing, with €830 million of that, or 73%, in acute settings. Of that spend in acute settings, approximately €91 million was spent on insourcing over a 27-month period. In view of the HSE’s over-reliance on insourcing, the organisation recommended it should be phased out completely by 30 June 2026.

Today, the health committee returns to find out what work has been carried out in this regard since July. The committee is keen to learn if the Minister has accepted these recommendations to fully end insourcing arrangements in public hospitals by the end of June 2026.

To commence the committee's consideration of these matters, I welcome the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, and officials from her Department, and also from the HSE, Mr. Bernard Gloster among others.

I have a note on privilege. Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice 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 engage in speech that may be regarded as damaging to the good name of a person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

To commence our consideration of this matter, I invite the Minister for Health, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, to make her opening remarks.