Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While I asked for the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, to attend the House, I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne.

The office of the director general of the HSE is in disarray. Public confidence in high level management in the HSE is at an all-time low and we are all distressed at what is unfolding in the agency. Only last month we had the Garda Commissioner debacle and now the cervical smear story which is harrowing for the women of this island and their families. I see an opportunity to revolutionise the way that the Department of Health operates. However, it will take real tenacity.

I concur with the sentiment of the upcoming motion in the Dáil that Tony O'Brien, the director general of the HSE, should step down. Irreparable damage has been caused to public trust. The whole situation is drenched in secrecy. We must look to a positive future for not just women's health but everyone's, as well as for the health services. The Irish Timesreported the recruitment process has already been stalled as the HSE is struggling to define the job description. If this is not indicative of the complete mismanagement and lack of governance in the HSE, then I do not know what is. It is bizarre and preposterous to imagine that for years the HSE could not describe the director general's role? How can there be proper checks and balances, as well as accountability for a role if there is no job description?

It is a year since the Sláintecare report was published. Will the Minister of State give the House an update on where we are with the board of the HSE? The accountability issue is glaring and it is inconceivable it has been left wide open for so long. According to the World Health Organization, good governance for health must include transparency, accountability, participation, integrity and policy capacity. It is obvious to everyone that the HSE administration fell far short of these. These values must be ensured for the next appointee.

How the Minister manages this process is vital, not only for the general public, but for the warriors on the ground in the health service. They want someone with a true capacity for leadership and who would be inspiring. Will he ensure a new fresh face for this post? Will he ensure the successful candidate will not come from the same toxic environment? According to media commentary, both deputy director generals and the chief strategy officer could be in the running for interim director general, as could the current HSE finance chief. In terms of culture, I have grave reservations about this. The process for finding a new director general should be open, accessible and revolutionary. The successful candidate must be a progressive agent for change. The chance is coming to change the captain of the ship. I hope this process is managed well. It is interesting to note that none of the current names floating around as possible candidates for Mr. O'Brien's replacement is a woman's. That raises a point in itself and should require some reflection.