A Donegal North East TD has written to Health Minister Leo Varadkar setting out proposed terms of reference for an independent enquiry into flooding at Letterkenny General Hospital.
In his letter to the minister, Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn says the confidence of the people of Donegal in the location, planning and design of the new hospital block is now in shreds, and that must be reflected in the scope of the enquiry.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn says another investigation and remedial action by the HSE will not suffice.
He asks for a Commission of Investigation, led by a suitably qualified retired judge with a panel of experts appointed by and available to him or her.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn says the investigation examine the location, planning and design of the block and review the various flooding incidents that have occurred from the “turning of the sod” through to the present.
He says it’s vital the investigation has full access to all data held by the relevant national and local government bodies and building contractors, including access to internal and external recruitment from the HSE.
The investigation should, he adds, have full and unrestrictive access to all communications records andn also details of monitoring and evaluation, budgets, risk analysis, risk and controls logs and minutes of meetings at all levels.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn says once established, the Judge chairing the investigation should report back to Government and the Houses of the Oireachtas within a six month period or in a shorter time frame if possible.
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Deputy Mac Lochlainn’s letter in full –
The investigation must include full access to all data held by the relevant national and local government bodies and building contractors, from incubation, conception, delivery and sign off. This should include access to internal and external recruitment from the HSE for the project management team (office) to ensure that the employees who were in daily control of the project were hired in accordance with the Governments own legislation based on competence, experience and qualifications.
At least one member of the expert panel to be appointed should have extensive troubleshooting and multi phased project experience to allow cohesion with the rest of the panel and to clarify on each specialty and areas of difference (an information developer)
Full and unrestrictive access to all of the projects communications, electronic, hard copy and data storage to include but not exhaustive of all email and hard copy documents.
Entire collection of project/programme controls, monitoring and evaluation, budgets, risk analysis, risk and controls logs, minutes of meetings from both internal, external, multi-tier organisations and internal and external minutes of meetings.
The entire collection of ‘Business Case’ management files and the compiled and unedited versions of all of the projects workings.
To report back to Government and the Houses of the Oireachtas within a six month period or in a shorter time frame if possible.
This is not offered as an exhaustive terms of reference but merely suggestions on my behalf.
Minister, I am available to meet with you and discuss these matters at your convenience.
Regards,
