David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)

I have a final point on this issue. I do not want to hold up the discussion on the Bill itself. I have read media reports between tensions between the Minister and some of voluntary hospitals. I do not want to get into that because I do not know the accuracy of it and I am not really that interested in it, in any event. The only interest I have is that the voluntary hospitals are fully compliant, play ball and implement in full the new financial management system that has been put in place, and any other system because I hope we will roll out electronic health records or summary care records at some point so we want the voluntary hospitals to be compliant with that as well.

The Minister is talking about amendments that may come to the Seanad as well in that area but has there been any pushback? Is there cause for concern about the voluntary hospitals? Notwithstanding what I said about reading in the media about tensions between the Minister and some of the voluntary hospitals, what has the engagement been like? Are there fears within the Department and the Minister that there is a reluctance from either all or some of the voluntary hospitals to comply with the new system that is being put in place?

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