Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 8:

In page 14, lines 36 to 38, to delete all words from and including "without" in line 36 down to and including "given" in line 38.

This amendment is about people essentially double jobbing. Running the HSE is a very extensive and important job. We read in the newspapers that it is also an extremely well remunerated job. I do not believe it is appropriate for the CEO to have another job or to sit on the boards of other companies or businesses while he or she is operating as the head of the HSE. We have seen how a person who occupied that role sat on the board of a US company that could do business with the HSE at some point. I understand that this was approved by the Minister but that does not make it right. If we are to have someone heading up the HSE, his or her focus should be solely on that job. We are asking this person to implement Sláintecare. That is an eight-days-a week, 24-hours-a-day job. We have already lost considerable time with regard to Sláintecare. This person will be very well paid. I am not sure he or she would need to seek other employment. We are asking this person to do a very onerous and important job and we want him or her to get it right on behalf of the State. I do not believe that is compatible with having another commitment. It is possible for this individual to have all those opportunities to sit on boards and take up other work when he or she retires but I feel very strongly that the sole focus of the person who heads up the HSE should be the HSE.

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