THE CHAIRMAN OF West/Northwest Hospital group Noel Daly has resigned.
It comes after Sinn Féin called it unacceptable that James Reilly was overseeing a review into how a company part-owned by Daly was appointed to examine local maternity services.
A review by the HSE audit unit last month found that the appointment breached HSE financial regulations.
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.
Upon his appointment to the West/North West Hospital Group, Daly resigned as chair of the Health Partnership.
Speaking at Leaders’ Questions yesterday Gerry Adams questioned how Reilly could examine the issue when he was the one who appointed Daly to his current role in 2012.
Announcing his retirement, Noel Daly said:
I have chosen to resign as chair of the West/North West Hospitals Group as I do not want my personal and professional reputation or the reputation of the Group to be compromised in any way.
Minister Reilly thanked Mr Daly for his considerable work on behalf on the West North West Hospital Group. The Health Minister said:
Under his stewardship the group has made vital progress in developing a multi hospital structure that is best positioned to meet the needs of people in the west and northwest of the country.
No Option
Meanwhile Sinn Féin Leader Gerry Adams said, ”Mr Daly had no option other than resignation considering what has emerged about his conflict of interests.”
Adams added, “Mr Daly was appointed as Chairman of the West North West Hospital Group by Minister for Health James Reilly.
“The Hospital Group subsequently contracted a private consultancy firm, of which Mr Daly is a founder and shareholder to draw up a report on Maternity services in the West North West region.
This report has engendered widespread concerns about the future of maternity services in the region.
The Sinn Féin leader also called for an explanation from the Health Minister.
“Minister Reilly needs to come into the Dáil and explain how such an appointment was made considering this most glaring conflict of interests.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say