Health Committee to meet HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid and Department of Health Secretary General Robert Watt to discuss Sláintecare

The meeting will take place in Committee Room 2 of Leinster House between 10:30-13:00.

The following representatives are due to address the Committee meeting remotely.

• Paul Reid - Chief Executive Officer - HSE
• Yvonne O’Neill - National Director, Community Operation - HSE
• Anne O’Connor - Chief Operations Officer - HSE
• Liam Woods - National Director, Acute Operations - HSE 
• Yvonne Goff - National Director, Change and Innovation - HSE 

• Robert Watt - Secretary General , Department of Health
• Bob Patterson - Principal Officer, Department of Health
• Jack Nagle - Principal Officer, Department of Health
• Caroline Pigott Principal Officer, Department of Health
• Muiris O’Connor – Assistant Secretary, Department of Health  

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Seán Crowe said: “Tomorrow’s meeting is a welcome opportunity for members to question the Secretary General at the Department of Health Robert Watt and HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid as there are concerns about the pace and future of the Sláintecare programme and the circumstances surrounding the resignations of two high profile members of the Sláintecare Implementation Advisory Council late last year.”

“Last year, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announced that the Council is to be restructured with a new focus on regional health structures which is not in line with the original plans for reform.”

“While the health service has come under enormous pressure in the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the cyber attack on the HSE, Sláintecare was introduced three years before the pandemic so these cannot be used as excuses for the lack of progress.”

“The move to a public only health system is a key priority for the Government and central to the Sláintecare vision of universal healthcare.” 

“The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy and Action Plan for 2021-2023 was published last year so the Committee welcomes this engagement to get a detailed update on progress made on Sláintecare reforms to date and the priorities and actions planned as we emerge from the pandemic.”

“Plans to reduce waiting list, demands for cancer services and inpatient and outpatient treatments and plans for a new Sláintecare implementation group are some of the areas the Committee want to discuss.” 

Watch the Committee live here or on the Oireachtas smartphone app for Apple and Android.