I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 215 together.
The first meeting of the National Steering Committee for the health service reform programme took place on 16 of February last.
The role of the National Steering Committee is to oversee the different strands of the health reform programme, confirming direction and ensuring that objectives are delivered. It provides a co-ordinating forum for actions being led by the Hanly group and the Interim Health Service Executive and the Department, respectively. It will provide guidance on programme planning and ensure that direction and progress are in line with the Government's decisions. It will report to me and the Cabinet committee on a regular basis. Reports will comment on progress achieved and should surface, in particular, any issues which require a response at Government level. It will liaise with the health reform project office in the Department of Health and Children and the board of the Interim Health Service Executive in the implementation process.
This initial meeting provided an opportunity for the committee to be briefed on progress to date in the first phase of implementation of the programme; updated on the development of a project plan for the next phases, including the identification of key milestones in 2004; and to discuss the most appropriate focus for the committee in guiding and overseeing progress.
The Deputy may wish to note that concerns were not expressed regarding the high cost of the Government proposals and confusion regarding the policy-executive split as these matters were not discussed by the committee. A short presentation was given which highlighted a number of issues which have emerged during phase I and which will be dealt with in the next phase of the programme. These include fully clarifying the description of the roles and responsibilities of the three main structures in the new system — my Department, the Health Service Executive and the Health Information and Quality Authority — to the level of detail required to make the necessary statutory provisions in legislation.
