Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I thank Mr. Devane very much and congratulate him on his reappointment. Clearly, given that he has been reappointed, the Government feels he has done a good job. That is a very strong vote of confidence in him. Why would the Government not reappoint him? Mr. Devane managed a very difficult health emergency and all involved in the HSE and Department of Health have to be commended because it was an extremely difficult time. The proof of the pudding is the result that we had one of the lowest mortality rates in Europe. That can often be forgotten when there are reflections on the very difficult period. It has not all been plain sailing and there certainly have been challenges. I would like Mr. Devane’s thoughts on the incredible over-expenditure and the supplementary budgets that have been required to keep the health service afloat and have resulted in the recruitment embargo and its consequences. How involved have the board and Mr. Devane, as chairperson, been in getting to the bottom of over-expenditure of hundreds of millions of euro and the need for supplementary budgets almost yearly?