Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

The Government has decided to give private developers a write off for the construction costs of private hospitals on the grounds of public hospitals. On 28 February, I asked the Taoiseach if it was the Government's intention to proceed with the signing of contracts to implement that scheme between now and the general election. The Taoiseach told me, "I am not aware of any contract. The Deputy can table a parliamentary question to the Minister for Health and Children. I am aware of no contract at any stage of negotiation."

The following day, as it happened, the Secretary General of the Department of Health and Children and the chief executive of the HSE were before the Committee of Public Accounts. My colleague, Deputy Burton, asked a similar question, to which the Secretary General replied: "I understand the procurement process will proceed along a timeline which means contracts could be or would be expected to be, whatever phrase the Deputy wants to use, awarded some time in April, that is the latest information I have."

The Taoiseach would have us believe he knows nothing about this, the Secretary General says it will go ahead in April and the Minister for Health and Children goes on the radio this morning to say it is nothing to do with her, the HSE will sign any contracts. The Labour Party's desire to maintain an improved public health service is ideological, she says, a concept entirely alien to her and her party leader. She then said that it is not a sale anyway, it is a lease.

As luck would have it, at that meeting of the PAC, Professor Drumm was asked, "Is it a lease or is it a sale?" This is the man who is supposed to be handling the process. Professor Drumm said, "While I understand it is a sale, I must check." I do not believe for a second that Professor Drumm does not know the answer. I believe that like 85% of consultants in Ireland, he does not agree with what the Government is forcing on him. The Chairman, Deputy Noonan, reminded the Secretary General what he had been asked. He said: "Specifically, the Deputy asked whether contracts will be signed for the disposal of HSE land to the private sector between now and the general election." Mr. Scanlan replied, "My understanding is that the answer is "Yes" as that is the timeline being worked to."

How is it, with all the running around the Taoiseach is doing, as Head of the Government he has never heard of any of these contracts? Is this a lease or a sale? Will they be signed in advance of the general election and what is the estimate of the cost to the taxpayer of so doing?

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