Hospital capital-project selection
Senators question whether ministerial influence improperly advanced hospital projects in Kilkenny and Wexford and seek explanations from the Government; the discussion also raises concerns about a Heritage Council appointment.
I will follow on from the request for a debate, and the concerns expressed by the Opposition Leader, Senator Darragh O'Brien, regarding the Department of Health's selection process for capital projects. I am unsettled by the suggestion that St. Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny and Wexford General Hospital were bumped up because of Departments trading favours and the hospitals' proximity to Ministers. Senator Kelly has raised a motion on the Adjournment this evening in the context of pre-election promises to the people of Roscommon and Sligo. It is disturbing to believe that Ministers made their announcements regarding the Kilkenny and Wexford hospitals without the HSE board's awareness. This is not to take from the worthiness of the projects in question, but to ask whether other hospitals were more worthy or urgent. Yesterday, the Minister was colourful in his description of portakabins at one site and the use of a former pharmacy in another instance, but those circumstances are replicated throughout the entire country. The flippancy of the Taoiseach is not welcome in dealing with what on the surface amounts to blatant corruption in most people's eyes.
These issues need to be clarified. In Sligo, for example, a major capital project was announced in 2010 and is undergoing various processes in the HSE. The people of Sligo and the north west would be as anxious as those in Roscommon to know what progress there has been. While I acknowledge the best efforts of the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, Deputy McLoughlin and Senators O'Keeffe and Comiskey, they are not in Cabinet. Is it the case that a hospital must be in proximity to a Minister to secure the progression of a capital project?
Comment on this
If it is the case, the people of the north west can rightly be concerned. The Opposition Leader has directly asked the Deputy Leader and the Labour Party whether they are happy with the processes and procedures that are followed in this headless chicken approach to selecting projects for progression. Even if it does not come today, it is important that the House has an answer.
Last week, I raised another issue of concern in the selection process. I will ask the Deputy Leader a question about the appointment to the Heritage Council by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan, of persons who had not even applied. Last week, the Leader undertook to answer my question this week.