John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Private Members' motion that has been proposed by Sinn Féin. It took the courage of Vicky Phelan to blow the lid on the culture of cover-up and denial that exists in the HSE, in the Department and at Government level. A sea-change in culture is needed to bring about the change that is necessary. Page 83 of the Sláintecare report deals with leadership, governance and accountability. It is a blueprint for the Minister, the Government and all future Governments in dealing with these critical areas. I remind the Minister that under the heading of "HSE Governance Structure", the Sláintecare report recommends:

• The Minister for Health is held responsible and accountable on a legislative basis for delivery of healthcare, the health system and health reform
• An independent board and Chair is appointed to the HSE at the earliest opportunity, by the Minister, following a selection process through the Public Appointments Service. Board membership reflects the skills required to provide oversight and governance to the largest public services in the State
• The Chair of the Health Service Board is accountable to the Minister for Health
• The Health Service Director General is accountable to the Board

It is all there. We need to implement it. The message that all employees of the HSE and the Department of Health and all members of the Government need to take from this unfortunate tragedy, which is continuing to unfold, is that covering up a mistake or an error is a far bigger crime than creating the error itself. If we are ever going to have accountability in our health service, that has to be the culture in which we proceed into the future.

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