Brid Smith TD on the Late Debate, 9.5.19
There is much to say about the NCH but the fundamental problem is our public procurement system, which stinks to high heaven.
Outsourcing, and the tendering for out-sourced contracts, seems to be the government’s solution to their every need, despite evidence of the disastrous results – Cervical Check and the National Children’s Hospital would be recent examples. Myself and Minister Pascal Donohoe certainly don’t agree – here’s a recent exchange on the issue.
The scandalous waste of public money at the National Children’s Hospital is compounded by the farce of giving PwC half a million Euros to ‘investigate’ it. PwC are employed by BAM, the contractor they are supposed to be investigating, and also by the Dept of Health, whose catastrophic balls-up this is! And guess who was Minister for Health when the contracts were signed – Leo himself! I put questions to Ministers Harris and Donoghoe about the very flawed procurement policies. No much by way of answers though.
Brid holds her own, despite often hostile opposition on a variety of topics – The National Children’s Hospital scandal, the nurses dispute, government housing and tax policies, and racist activity in Roosky