I add my condolences on the death of the former Member of this House and Dáil Éireann, Alexis Fitzgerald. 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 in 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 for each of those hospitals and is responsible for the manner in which the block grant is spent. It is answerable to the Comptroller and Auditor General who found in his audit of 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 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 the recommendations made. If the practice is continuing, as was highlighted last night, it appears that the recommendations have not been taken into consideration. I ask the Leader to facilitate such a debate in early course on the resumption of the Seanad.