Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

In response to a series of reviews which raised corporate and clinical governance concerns at CHI, I have moved to strengthen governance and oversight structures at CHI in a range of different way. This was done via the appointment of two members of the HSE board to the board of CHI on 28 May. There are more board appointments to be made. This means that all but one members of the board have been appointed since 2024. This is a different reference period to some of these activities.

The service level agreement between CHI and the HSE has been strengthened, and there is significantly increased involvement from the Dublin and midlands regional executive officer. Recognising the need to co-ordinate oversight of the range of matters of focus in CHI in a cohesive fashion, the HSE CEO has established the HSE CHI improvement steering group. These actions are designed to support the new CEO in CHI and enable her to continue with the transformation programme she has started.

Regarding the 2022 internal examination referenced by the Deputy, I have been advised by the Attorney General that I do not have the legal basis to publish this report. I sought that legal advice with a view to trying to put it into the public domain correctly. I received it correctly but it is the property of CHI and I do not have the power myself to publish it. Any publication must be made by CHI. On 16 June, CHI published a summary of the report. Subsequent to my letter on 26 May requesting a response from the CHI board to the report, on 18 June I wrote to the CHI board requesting assurance that the recommendations have been addressed in full. I also emphasised the priority I place on child patient safety issues and asked the board to report directly to me on the status of the children that may have been impacted.

See this speech in context