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HEALTH MINISTER JAMES Reilly has denied that there is a conflict of interest after it emerged that the group tasked with reviewing maternity services in Galway, Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal was founded by the director of the West/North West Hospital Group.
In 2012, Noel Daly was appointed to his current role by Reilly. He set up D & F Health Partnership Ltd, trading as the Health Partnership, with Deirdre Foley Woods in 2008.
That group is now examining maternity facilities at University Hospital Galway, Merlin Park University Hospital, Sligo Regional Hospital, Letterkenny General Hospital, Mayo General Hospital, Portiuncula Hospital and Roscommon County Hospital.
Upon his appointment to the West/North West Hospital Group, Daly resigned as chair of the Health Partnership.
He retained a 50 per cent share in the company but the hospital group said he has received “no financial reward of any kind from the company since his retirement in December 2011″ and “remains committed to disposing of his shares”.
In a statement, the Group said the Health Partnership was chosen because of “their considerable experience within the health sector” and “competitive price” for conducting the review – €20,000.
Sinn Féin senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh said there “could be huge conflicts of interest involved” and called on Daly to “review his position as Chair of the Board”.
Fianna Fáil’s Seanad Health Spokesperson Marc Mac Sharry echoed these sentiments, saying the issue needed to be “addressed immediately”.
He added:
By any objective analysis, this is a direct conflict of interest. It calls into question Mr Daly’s position at the helm of the hospital group and it calls into question the group’s management of this entire ‘review’. We need to know what process was undertaken by the hospital group to select the company to carry out this analysis of maternity services.
Reilly told the Seanad on Wednesday that he was “aware that an issue has arisen” in relation to the matter.
He said that the HSE Internal Audit Unit had undertaken a review and “established that the procurement of services was not in accordance with HSE National Financial Regulations”.
Reilly added that the Director General has written to the Hospital Group Chairperson and the CEO to ensure there will be “no further breaches of procurement rules”.
The West/North West Hospitals Group said it “cooperated fully” with the internal review and accepted its recommendations, namely that national financial regulations are complied with for all future expenditure and a register of members’ interests should be established and maintained at the hospital group to avoid conflicts of interest.
Reilly said he was “satisfied that this operational matter is being dealt with appropriately by the HSE working with the CEO and the Group Board”.
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Not shocking anymore. Kind of half expect this sort of stuff now.
What is it with this man and “conflicts of interests” ?
Nothing to see here move along now !!
Ah lads , cronyism in ireland ? NEVER !!
Of course he denies a conflict of interest. When did you ever read, “Minister admits conflict of interest.”
O’Reilly would deny today is Friday. He cant even lay in bed straight at this stage.
From a guy who pushed two primary care sites in his own constituency up the list of potential sites…still waiting on the criteria you used Stroker!
Then what exactly is it then? Walks like a duck…etc
Welcome to Ireland,probably the most corrupt country in Europe
Hands up who is shocked or surprised by this. …….
Richie rodgers
We’ll get there stroke by stroke.
Reilly involved again no surprise there to be honest.
Shattergate mark2 ….Reilly on the inside track…….FG/Lab even more corrupt than FF, there is a scary reality…..Resign James you have your money made…..
How come the 20,000 commission was so low? The going rate for a report like this was 125,000 in 2011 and the Health Partnership is not a charity!
Women of Ireland, come together and let us al put a stop to this madness, I’d like to c a man in the full throws of labour, having to face a 2 hr car journey. On lovely pot-holed roads!!!
If he appointed someone from outside the area, the complaint would be that they didn’t understand the area.
If he appointed someone without the medical knowledge, the complaint would be that someone who didn’t understand medical provision was making the decisions
If he appoints someone from inside the area with the right medical background, the complaint is that there’s a conflict of interest.
I wish people would state who they think should be appointed, because almost every decision can have some line of attack.
Kinda sums up JR. Anyway after the reshuffle it will be someone else’s problem.
How many absolute effin’ outrages are we, as a nation, prepared to put up with? This Minister and his shady pals should be run out of the country, let alone sacked.
And deny being in denial
How come this commission was 6 times less than the going rate for the job? A bargain at 20,000! Such reports cost 125,000 in 2011.
The Journal got it wrong! The Health Partnership predates 2008! in March 2005 the company wrote to the Dept of Finance highlighting their role in private health care ventures in Ireland, UK, Portugal and Germany and suggesting tax incentives for private sector players in e.g. direct service provision, the supply of high tech equipment, patient and staff accommodation, primary care provision, nursing home care, etc. Even hospital traffic management got a look in. Hard to believe no one in the West/North-West hospital group knew of Mr Daly’s involvement with this high profile healthcare company.
Why would anyone be surprised with this ruling class carryon, and they wonder why people voted for the left
The main conflict of interest here is the fact tgat Noel Daly wrote to revenue in 2005 with what could be described as a bluepriting which would see private interests profiting from tge removal of public services. In that letter it mentions how the private sector could provide accomodation for people who due to clousure of public services would have to travek greater distances.
Over 6 years later tgis man is appointed chair of a hospital group. In the space of little over a year his company is given the task of reviewing maternitu in the same region. This report is said to recommend many clousures.
Given all this histiry I cannot see how this review can hold any authority. Or indeed how anyone in this countru could trust its recommendations.
In fact this review ihas been damaged beyond repair. Hiwever it should be made available to the public.
Luje Ming Flaagan spoje about concerns that gospital staff had about how tgis revuew was completed. Perhaps he should come back to this important debate in Irish healthcare before he leaves fir Europe.
Reilly people dont believe a word from your lying mouth!
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