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The Journal
5 days ago
- Health
- The Journal
Children's Health Ireland to be called back before Public Accounts Committee
THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS Committee is to recall Children's Health Ireland (CHI) and the HSE to appear before it. The PAC has also called for the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to appear before it. CHI last appeared before the committee last week alongside the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board to give an update on progress on the construction of the National Children's Hospital. Sinn Féin TD John Brady, who chairs the PAC, said the recall comes following reports that a CHI consultant allegedly referred patients he was seeing in his public practice to weekend clinics that he was operating separately. The Sunday Times reported last week on unpublished findings that the consultant breached HSE guidelines with these referrals. The consultant was paid €35,800 via the National Treatment Purchase Fund, which aims to cut waiting times by paying private practices to treat patients on public waiting lists. However, a 2021 inquiry found the patients selected had not waited longest, and so did not qualify for the consultant's appointments. Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said she received the report at 3.30pm on Monday, and that it is very serious. Speaking on radio earlier this week, she said she is working out the 'legal parameters around publishing the report', adding that she does feel it is important that it is published. Advertisement Sinn Féin TD John Brady, who chairs the committee, said it has asked CHI and the HSE to appear before it. In a statement this afternoon, Brady said the public 'has a right to expect accountability at every level of our health system, especially where public money and patient care are concerned'. 'This is not just about one consultant – it is about the systems and oversight mechanisms that allowed this to happen,' the PAC chair said. Children's Health Ireland has been in charge of children's health services in Ireland since 2019. It has been scandal hit over the last year, over the use of unauthorised implants in children's spinal surgeries, and unwarranted hip surgeries being carried out on children, which was initially reported by The Ditch. An independent review published last Friday established that in Temple Street, roughly 40% of the surgeries the audit reviewed were indicated to have met the criteria; in Cappagh, 21% were indicated, and in Crumlin, virtually all surgeries fell under the criteria. Following its findings, CHI CEO Lucy Nugent apologised to impacted families who were not offered a 'consistent and excellent standard of care'. Three members of the CHI board resigned from their positions following the release of the review into hip surgeries. This evening, the Health Minister announced that she has appointed Dr Yvonne Traynor and Anne Carrigy to the CHI board. 'The strengthening of governance and oversight at CHI will further support the extensive transformation programme, led by CHI CEO Lucy Nugent and her team, as we move to open the state-of-art Children's Hospital which will be Ireland's first digital public hospital,' Carroll MacNeill said. She said that further appointments relating to vacancies on the board will be made in due course. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
14-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Anger as west Wicklow hotel earmarked for asylum seekers when Ukrainians leave
The news was relayed to Wicklow TD John Brady, who has called for a halt to plans for an IPAS centre at the site. He said that he understands the hotel has been offered to provide accommodation to asylum seekers under a lease agreement of up to two years. Reacting, he said: 'Any decision to use the Avon hotel in Blessington as IPAS centre when it ceases to be used for Ukrainians is deeply concerning and any decision must be reversed as a matter of urgency. 'I have been informed that due to the reduced demand to provide accommodation to Ukrainians and that the owners have expressed an interest in providing ongoing services to IPAS.' 'The Avon is the only hotel in Blessington and is a vital piece of local tourism infrastructure, supporting jobs, local businesses, and the wider economy across west Wicklow. 'The loss of The Avon to the tourism industry in 2023 has had a huge negative impact on the already fragile tourism sector in west Wicklow, which has also been hit by the loss of Germaine's Hotel in Baltinglass, now also being used to provide accommodation services. This is a double blow to the region, stripping it of two key tourism facilities and further eroding the capacity to attract visitors, events, and investment.' He added: 'Only last month, the Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan gave a clear commitment that hotels currently housing Ukrainian refugees would return to tourism use once vacated. This decision now flies in the face of that commitment, leaving the government's word in tatters. 'This decision has been made without any consultation, local engagement, or consideration for the long-term economic damage it will cause. It is yet another example of a government completely out of touch with communities on the ground." Deputy Brady had warned last week that from his new position as chair of the Public Accounts Committee he intended to investigate what he called 'spiralling costs' of IPAS centres. He reiterated this in light of The Avon news and added that he has objected directly to the Department of Justice, urging members of the public to follow suit. 'I have raised my strong objections directly with the Department of Justice and written to the Minister to demand this decision be reversed immediately,' he said. 'The lease agreement must be scrapped, and The Avon must be returned to its proper and much-needed role as a tourism facility serving Blessington and the wider region. "I urge members of the public to contact Wicklow TD and Tánaiste Simon Harris and Fianna Fáil Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan demanding that any idea of entering a contract to use the Avon for IPAS be immediately scrapped.'
Irish Times
08-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Public Accounts Committee to examine ‘profiteering' on asylum seeker accommodation, new chairman says
The Dáil 's spending watchdog is to scrutinise expenditure on accommodation for asylum seekers , the new national children's hospital and on the failed IT system for the Arts Council , its new chairman has indicated. Speaking at the first session of the new Dáil Public Accounts Committee on Thursday, John Brady of Sinn Féin said its focus must be on ensuring citizens received the very best services and the best value possible for public money. He said one of the most pressing issues he intended to prioritise on the committee was 'massive profiteering' in the provision of accommodation for those seeking asylum in Ireland. 'People have become millionaires providing sometimes poor quality accommodation in a deeply flawed system while communities have lost vital local facilities including hotels,' said Mr Brady. READ MORE 'The State has paid out billions of euro with, what I believe, is very little transparency. There are increasing reports of some companies with no track record being awarded substantial contracts.' Mr Brady said the cost of the International Protection Accommodation Service last year was €1 billion and was projected to exceed €1.2 billion this year. 'I believe the Public Accounts Committee has a critical role in scrutinising how these contracts are awarded and whether they deliver value for money for the taxpayer.' Mr Brady also said it was critically important that the committee examined costs associated with the new national children's hospital. He said expenditure had on the project had soared to more than €2.4 billion. John Brady has indicated the Public Accounts Committee will examine costs associated with the national children's hospital. Photograph Nick Bradshaw He said that previously the committee had experienced challenges in getting some critical bodies to appear before the Public Accounts Committee. 'There was deep frustration and disappointment on behalf of members of the last Public Accounts Committee when key witnesses from the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and Children's Health Ireland were unavailable to come before the committee,' he said. [ Delay to opening of national children's hospital for patients known for some time, Carroll-MacNeill says Opens in new window ] 'I would like to move quickly to invite those bodies into the Public Accounts Committee to get some very important questions answered.' Mr Brady also said the Public Accounts Committee must look closely at spending by the Arts Council, particularly expenditure of €6.7 million on a failed IT system. 'Such a significant outlay with no outcome cannot go unchecked,' he said. Mr Brady also said the committee should give particular scrutiny to 'the extremely serious issue of bogus self-employment'. 'This is a systemic problem in many sectors, not just in the likes of RTÉ or the gig economy. It is now a big issue for postmasters, to name but one other key area,' he said. 'It not only undermines workers' rights but places an unjust financial burden on the State. I believe the Public Accounts Committee has a duty to expose how and why these practices continue and to assess their real cost to the public purse.'
Irish Independent
28-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Commuters hit out after Wicklow rail fare hikes – ‘Lost cause, total shambles...we're being taken for a ride'
The changes mean a single ticket to Dublin will rise from €3.90 to €5.10, while a return ticket will jump from €7.20 to €9.20. Having lost their only direct bus service to the airport, following the departure of Aircoach this year, and facing into yet another bank holiday with no train service, Greystones residents were quick to take to local forums to air their grievances. "Lost cause,' one wrote. 'We lost Aircoach (nothing done), shoddy ineffective bus service. Next weekend trains are not operating, no contingencies in place so a total shambles. Now train fair (sic) has gone up.' "Pushing more cars on the road,' another commented on the Facebook community forum. "Also increasing child fares and adult fares. More people will just drive to the Luas in Carrickmines. Greystones is a part of the line, it should be zone 1,' they added, referring to the decision to place Greystones and Kilcoole into zone 2, meaning commuters in Wicklow town get better value for their money travelling to zone 3. Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady added his voice to the local forum, and, with the wind behind him following his new appointment to head up the Public Accounts Committee, said he has written to the National Transport Authority, Transport for Ireland and the Transport Minister highlighting people's concerns. "At a time when the Government should be encouraging people to use public transport to reduce emissions and combat traffic congestion, increasing fares will only act as a disincentive. To increase charges when there have been so many issues with reliability, particularly of bus services, is completely unacceptable,' he told the forum. Greystones Councillor Stephen Stokes said Greystones and Kilcoole commuters 'are being taken for a ride' and called the hikes 'unjustifiable and another blow to hardworking commuters'. He pointed to the lack of significant improvements in service quality, frequency, or capacity to justify the price increases. 'Where's the return for the extra money being paid? Trains are still packed at peak hours, and many commuters are standing for most of their journey. It's not good enough.' He also criticised the lack of transparency and consultation around the fare changes and said there was 'no real engagement with the people who are most affected'. "Decisions like this should not be made behind closed doors. Commuters deserve a voice,' he said. Cllr Stokes has promised to raise the issue at the next council meeting. Meanwhile, the plight of Greystones' commuters hit the national airwaves, when Wicklow Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore spoke to RTE's Claire Byrne and branded the new fare system "a mixed bag' for commuters, 'especially those in my constituency.' 'Fares have come down across the Dublin Commuter Zone (DZC), for example for Rathdrum and Wicklow town commuters, and I welcome this change. But for commuters in Greystones and Kilcoole, fares have gone up by up to 30pc today for adult commuters and for school children and that is completely counterintuitive,' she said. Looking at the bigger picture, Deputy Whitmore added that as the country struggles to meet climate action targets, 'disincentivising people from using public transport will only push them back into their cars". 'It is worth noting that transport accounted for 21.4pc of the country's greenhouse gasses in 2023 and is the one sector where emissions are increasing,' Deputy Whitmore argued. 'Greystones is a town that relies heavily on the Dart service into town, and it is in fact the only Dart station outside of Zone 1. I have had constituents email me telling me that they have no choice now but to get back into the car for their commute to work and for the school run, and these are people who have been trying to reduce their carbon emissions by adapting their lifestyles to public transport. This fare hike undermines those efforts,' Deputy Whitmore concluded.
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Sinn Féin chooses John Brady to chair Dáil's Public Accounts Committee
John Brady, a Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow, has been appointed as chair of the Dáil's powerful Public Accounts Committee. There had been months of delays to appoint committees and their chairs, after the Dáil's speaking rights row disrupted their formation. The top jobs at Oireachtas committees include a €10,888 salary top-up and are doled out through the d'Hondt method – which gives the positions based on party size in the Dáil. Sinn Féin was the final party to announce its picks for committee chairs, with a number of the party's prominent frontbenchers being selected to take up top jobs. This includes Galway West TD Mairéad Farrell, who will chair the Finance Committee, and Cavan-Monaghan TD Matt Carthy, who will chair the Justice, Home Affairs and Migration committee. Ms Farrell briefly was the chair of the PAC in the last Dáil, after former Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley resigned from the party amid internal party inquiries. After his resignation, he was removed from the PAC chair position. Other party frontbenchers, Rose Conway Walsh and Louise O'Reilly, have been appointed as committee chairs, for the Defence and National Security committee and Petitions committee respectively. Limerick City TD Maurice Quinlivan will chair the Disability Matters committee, while Waterford TD Conor D McGuinness takes up the top position on the Fisheries and Maritime Affairs committee. Fianna Fáil committee chairs On Thursday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed his own party's committee chairs, with Laois TD Seán Fleming to take over chairing the Infrastructure & National Development Plan Delivery committee. Cork East TD James O'Connor was appointed as chair of the Enterprise, Tourism and Employment committee, while Dublin South-West TD John Lahart was appointed to chair the Foreign Affairs and Trade committee. Aindrias Moynihan, from Cork North-West, will chair the Agriculture and Food committee, while Clare TD Cathal Crowe takes on the Education and Youth committee. Other appointees include Louth TD Erin McGreehan as chair of the Further and Higher Education committee, Dun Laoghaire TD Cormac Devlin as chair of the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement committee and Wicklow-Wexford TD Malcolm Byrne as AI committee chair. Fine Gael committee chairs Tánaiste Simon Harris appointed seven Fine Gael TDs to chair committees, all of whom are first-time TDs. This includes Micheál Carrigy to chair the Housing Committee, Michael Murphy to the Transport committee and John Paul O'Shea to the Social Protection committee. Barry Ward, TD for Dun Laoghaire, is to chair the European Affairs committee, while Mayo TD Keira Keogh will chair the Children and Equality committee. Naoise Ó Muiri and Catherine Callaghan are to chair the Climate committee and Members Interests committee respectively. Other committee chairs The Social Democrats, meanwhile, confirmed Cork South Central TD Pádraig Rice will chair the Health Committee, while his party colleague Gary Gannon will chair the time-limited Drug Use committee. For Labour, Tipperary North TD Alan Kelly will chair the Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport Committee. The party will also appoint the chairperson of the Traveller Community committee, but is yet to make a decision on the matter. Independent TD for Galway West, Catherine Connolly, will chair the Irish Language committee. The Independent technical group, made up of Independent Ireland, Aontú and independent TD Paul Gogarty, will chair one committee - the budgetary oversight committee. This is likely to go to an Independent Ireland TD.
