Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In the first instance we will write to the HSE for a copy of this report because we have only seen the media report on it. Based on our previous experience with Console, I expect we will get a copy of it but that it will be sent to us on a confidential basis and will not be for publication.

To explain to people watching why that is the case, a report carried out by internal auditors is not intended for publication. If it were to be published, it would have to be legally prepared and tested in case anybody wanted to contest an issue. It is essentially an internal matter. To publish something that was produced only to a standard for internal circulation would be a different issue for the HSE. The HSE has never published its internal audit report because it would have to proof every internal audit report legally and it would lead to different issues. In terms of the Console audit report, we all received copies of it here and discussed it at length. Neither the HSE nor this committee published it. It was widely circulated in the media but we did not publish it because there was obviously some quite strong issues therein which might have led to legal issues. We will ask for a copy of this report and consider it.

I want to remind members that as a result of our work with the HSE and the section 38 and 39 organisations, we received 100% of all financial statements from 2016. The organisations were here last September or October and they had provided over 70% of the statements. The HSE's record of getting section 38 and 39 bodies to comply with their financial reporting obligations was far greater than the public sector organisations we deal with here.

We all see a big gap in procurement. Procurement always happens without the proper procurement processes being in place, and that to me is still the weakest link in the HSE at the moment.

On the issue of the section 38 and 39 organisations, all of the historic issues of people receiving double or extra payments or extra allowances have been brought into line bar the final few.

Apart from a small number of people at grades 4 and 5, they have all been brought into line with public service payment schedules. Some people had to leave their posts because they did not agree to that. There has been some improvement and we might refresh ourselves on that, although work remains to be done. However, here we go again. I accept everything Mr. McCarthy says in this regard.