Questions about whether information technology contract correctly awarded
3rd December, 2014
The Minister for Health should answer “serious questions” about a contract awarded by the HSE West Northwest Group, now known as the ‘Saolta University Health Care Group’, to a British company, Independent University Senator Rónán Mullen told the Seanad today.
Senator Mullen said that Saolta, which includes all the major hospitals in Counties Galway, Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal, had awarded a contract for information technology systems for its hospitals to a UK-based company, Northgate Public Services. “The value of this contract has not been disclosed by the HSE but the Irish Times has reported that a senior member of management with Saolta was previously a consultant with the company. It is also clear from the Irish Times report that Northgate was the only company invited to bid for this contract.”
Senator Mullen noted that a serious issue had arisen previously when the West Northwest hospital group had invited only one organisation to tender for the preparation of a report about the provision of maternity services. That organisation had an association with the then chairman of the hospital group who subsequently resigned from his hospital role.
The previous Minister for Health, James Reilly had given an assurance that there “would be no further breaches in relation to procurement matters”. But it was now important for the sake of public confidence that the Minister for Health address the issues around this information technology contract.
“What was the value of this contract for IT services and in the light of that value, did the tendering process comply with correct procedure? Was the Department of Health and the then Minister aware of possible tendering anomalies in the context of Northgate plc when the other issue was raised previously in the Seanad? If so, why was there no advertence to that fact?”
“I am asking for the Minister to come to the House because if there was any commercial connection between any member of senior management of those hospitals and the company that received the contract, it would raise serious issues.”
Senator Mullen noted that the current CEO of Saolta was due to finish his term in December 2014 and to transfer to the management of hospitals in the North-Eastern region in January. There might have to be suspension of this appointment until there was “full clarity” around the issue, Senator Mullen said.
