Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I add my condolences on the death of the former Member of this House and of Dáil Éireann, former Senator Fitzgerald, who passed away. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.

I wish to refer to an issue which was highlighted last night on the “Prime Time Investigates” programme, but which has been under review by the Committee of Public Accounts and the Comptroller and Auditor General for some time, namely, procurement within the HSE and hospital sector. The HSE spends approximately €1.6 billion every year on the procurement of services. It is trying to distance itself this morning from the hospitals concerned but the fact remains that the HSE provides a block grant to each of those hospitals and is responsible for the manner in which the block grant is spent. The HSE is answerable to the Comptroller and Auditor General who found in his audit of the HSE procurement as far back as 2012 and 2013 that goods and services were being procured in some instances without competitive tenders.

A different but linked issue was raised in last night’s programme. It appears to be endemic across the HSE and hospitals. While it may have been common practice in the past, it is totally unacceptable as we try to obtain value for money in the procurement of any services or goods for the public health care system. We should debate the matter, but I accept we might not have time ahead of the summer recess. However, I ask the Leader to facilitate a debate with the Minister for Health on the issue in early September when we return, taking into consideration some of the recommendations made by the Committee of Public Accounts on HSE procurement and what steps have been taken by the Department of Health, the HSE and the hospital groups to fulfil some of those recommendations. If the practice is continuing, as was highlighted last night, it would appear that the recommendations have not been taken into consideration. I ask the Leader to facilitate such a debate in early course upon the Seanad’s resumption.