Green Party raises further questions for Harney on Lorenzo system
Statement by John Gormley TD, Green Party Chairman and health spokesperson
The Tánaiste now needs to make a full statement about the HSE contract with the troubled iSoft company which has been contracted to deliver the Lorenzo software system. So far we have established the following facts:
1. Ten million euro was paid to iSoft as part of a 56 million euro contract.
2. Not a single element of the Lorenzo system has been installed in this country. All we have had is an upgrade of existing software.
3. Reviews of the Lorenzo software in Britainhave shown that it is far from complete and that a delivery date cannot be guaranteed.
4. According to Jack Somers of the HSE, no contact has been made to date with iSoft to get reassurances about its future viability.
5. This software – or similar software – is badly needed to modernise our health service.
But there are still unanswered questions. Precisely what plans do the HSE and Department for Health have if this company goes to the wall? Who will produce the required software and how much will it cost? Has anyone from the HSE tried to establish whether the payments it made to iSoft form part of the UK Financial Services Authority investigation into irregularities in iSoft’s accounts?
Finally, Jack Somers from the HSE confirmed on the radio this morning that an individual had now been appointed within the iSoft project with overall responsibility for the architecture of the system. Who is this person and when were they appointed?
It is becoming clearer by the day that the much needed Lorenzo system has the potential to become another PPARS debacle. Given that iSoft are now being investigated by the Financial Services Authority in the UK, its future and the future of the Lorenzo system must be in doubt. Under these circumstances someone from the Government, preferably the Minister responsible should make a statement.