HSE Strategy and Reform Committee Meeting Minutes 19 November 2025

Committee Members Present

Tim Hynes (Chair), Matt Walsh, Sarah Barry, Martin Mc Cormack, Derick Mitchell, Barry Lowry, Aogán Ó Fearghail.

Apologies

Brendan Whelan

HSE Executive Attendance

Damien McCallion (CTTO), Sara Long (REO Dublin and North East), Camille Staunton (GM Technology and Transformation), Niamh Drew (Deputy Corporate Secretary), Rebecca Kennedy (Office of the Board).

Joined the Meeting

Brian O’Connell (ND Strategic Health Infrastructure and Capital Delivery), Tom Laffan (Chief Data and Analytics Officer), JP Nolan (AND Access and Integration), Patrick Lynch (ND Planning and Performance), Raied Karim (EHR Programme Director), Anne Marie Hoey (Chief People Officer), Yvonne Gregory (GM National Employee Relations), Joseph Duggan (Chief Internal Officer), Neal Mullen (Chief Information Security Officer), Elaine Kilroe (AND Enterprise Risk Management), Louise O’Hare (AND Sláíntecare Transformation and Innovation Office), Derek O’Keeffe (Consultant Physician University Hospital Galway and Director of the Health Innovation via Engineering (HIVE) Lab), Jo Shortt (AND Organisational Change Unit), Maurice Power (Organisational Change Unit).

Minutes reflect the order in which items were considered and are numbered in accordance with the original agenda. All performance/activity data used in this document refers to the latest information available at the time.

The Committee held a private session to review the agenda, the relevant papers and approach to conducting the meeting, noting that the focus of the meeting would be to receive updates on key items and to suggest relevant actions as they became apparent.

2.1 Declarations of Interest

No conflicts of interest were declared.

2.2 Committee Meeting Minutes

The Committee approve the minutes of 09 September 2025.

2.3 Workplan and meeting dates 2026

The Committee noted that work is ongoing re development of next year’s workplan and that consideration is being given to the appointment of additional external members.

ND Strategic Health Infrastructure and Capital Delivery joined the meeting

3.1 National Maternity Hospital

The ND Strategic Health Infrastructure and Capital Delivery (SHICD) briefed the Committee on the National Maternity Hospital (NMH) at St. Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH) Programme. The Committee noted the paper circulated in advance of the meeting which covered: Programme Governance and Priority Resource Mobilisation; Programme Look Ahead; Programme Change Control; Improved Care Pathways; and Design Flexibility and Adaptability.

The Committee discussed the National Oversight Group and emphasised the need for clarity around accountability for the project. The Committee also highlighted the impact of participating on such Boards on patient advocates and the lack of consistency which suggests a need for development of a national policy for patient involvement. It was agreed that the Terms of Reference for the National Oversight Group would be circulated to the Committee when available.

ND Strategic Health Infrastructure and Capital Delivery left the meeting

3.2 National Electronic Health Record (EHR)

EHR Programme Director, Chief Data and Analytics Officer (CDAO), and AND Access and Integration joined the meeting

The Committee welcomed the new EHR Programme Director Raied Abdul-Karim. The CTTO updated the Committee on progress on the National EHR Programme. The Committee noted papers circulated in advance of the meeting which included updates on: the Preliminary Business Case; Procurement; Programme Management; Health Service Transformation; Technology Transformation Communications; Workforce; and Risk Management.

The CTTO confirmed that the DPER Major Projects Advisory Group Process finished in September and the target for government approval is this month (November 2025). He advised that procurement is the next phase and the Procurement Evaluation Group has been formed. The Committee queried in particular the impact of broader AI in healthcare in this context. The CTTO advised that this is being monitored and the Gartner Report on the subject (AI in Healthcare) would be provided to the Committee.

3.3 Data Strategy

The CDAO updated the Committee on progress on the HSE Data Strategy. The Committee noted papers circulated in advance of the meeting which included updates on: the HSE Data Strategy Implementation Plan; Secondary Use of Data; Data Architecture; Data Quality and Risk Management.

The Committee welcomed the work completed to date and discussed in particular the importance of clear communication and staff engagement during the development and roll-out of the policy. The Committee highlighted the need for the CDAO to identify appropriate KPIs to effectively monitor the roll-out. It was agreed that updates would continue to come to the Committee during 2026.

3.4 Corporate Plan

ND Planning and Performance joined the meeting

The ND Planning and Performance updated the Committee on the status of HSE Corporate Plan 2025-2027. The Committee noted papers the National Performance Report (NPR) September 2025 which was circulated in advance of the meeting.

EHR Programme Director, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, and ND Planning and Performance joined the meeting

CPO and GM National Employee Relations joined the meeting

The CPO updated the Committee on the People Strategy 2025-2027 which was published in July 2025. The Committee noted the paper circulated in advance of the meeting which included updates on implementation of the People Strategy including: workstreams based on themes of the Strategy; the planned quarterly dashboard; and Risk Management.

The Committee discussed in particular training and education pathways including undergrad degrees and apprenticeship. The Committee was encouraged by the update and agreed that further updates should be provided in 2026 as the implementation progresses.

GM National Employee Relations left the meeting

CIA joined the meeting

The CIA updated the Committee on the HSE Policy on Fraud and Corruption. The Committee noted the papers circulated in advance of the meeting which outlined Internal Audit’s role in the management of fraud risk; and other HSE functions involved in the management of fraud risk.

The Committee noted that the ownership of the policy is shared between HR and Audit and that this is unusual from a governance perspective. The Committee requested a further update on the operation of the policy and controls in place at a future meeting. The Committee also highlighted that development of a positive risk culture is critical for the successful implementation of this policy.

CPO and CIA left the meeting

AND Enterprise Risk Management and CISO joined the meeting

6.1 Focus on R007 Cyber Security

The CISO provided the Committee with a deep-dive on Corporate Risk Register Risk R007. The Committee noted the papers circulated in advance of the meeting which included updates on: the September CISO Cyber Posture Summary; Cyber Security Initiatives Progressing in 2025; and Independent Assurance.

The CISO confirmed that the HSE is working closely with the National Cyber Security Centre in relation to cyber fundamentals. The Committee noted that the independent cyber audit will come to the Committee in Q1 2026 in advance of its submission to the Board.

6.2 CRR Q3 2025 Report

The AND Risk Enterprise presented the Q3 2025 Corporate Risk Register (CRR) and accompanying Committee extract and metric report to the Committee. The Q3 2025 Corporate Risk Register was reviewed and approved at the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) meeting on 28 October 2025 and was subsequently reviewed by the Audit and Risk Committee on 14 November 2025.

The Committee recognised an improvement in risk maturity and discussed its allocated principal risks (R006 Major Infrastructure, R007 Cyber Security and R008 Health Regions), noting no change to risk status to R006 and R008. In relation to R007, the AND Risk Enterprise highlighted that the cyber threat continues at a high level though there was no increase in residual risk rating.

AND Enterprise Risk Management and CISO left the meeting

7.1 Driving Change and Transforming Services – Quarterly Portfolio Report

AND Sláíntecare Transformation and Innovation Office (STIO) joined the meeting

The Committee noted the Quarterly Transformation Portfolio Report Q4 2025 and associated documentation submitted by the CTTO and circulated in advance of the meeting. The papers provided a strategic and integrated overview of each of the priority programmes within the HSE Transformation Portfolio. The CTTO highlighted that each of the programmes underpin the delivery of major Sláintecare reforms and other critical service developments.

The Committee welcomed the positive reporting provided and discussed in particular the Surgical Hubs programme, noting that it is a good example of successful implementation of a transformation programme.

7.2 Health Innovation

D O’Keeffe joined the meeting

Derek O’Keeffe, Consultant Physician University Hospital Galway and Director of the Health Innovation via Engineering (HIVE) Lab presented to the Committee an overview of the All-Islands Virtual Care project. It aims to extend tele-medicine services to 12 of Ireland’s offshore islands—enhancing access to GP and HSE primary care, Community Specialist Teams, and hospital outpatient services for island communities.

The Committee was very encouraged by the project’s roll-out, particularly in relation to the engagement with various stakeholders’ incl. local community, local GPs, and consultants in University Hospital Galway. The Committee thanked Prof O’Keeffe for his time and recognised the project as a great example of on-the ground innovation.

D O’Keeffe and AND STIO left the meeting

AND Organisational Change Unit and Health Region Corporate Implementation Lead joined the meeting

8.1 Health Regions Programme/Integrated Service Delivery

The AND Organisational Change Unit updated the Committee on the Health Regions Progress Report. The Committee noted the paper circulated in advance of the meeting which included updates on the following: HSE Centre; Health Regions Integrated Service Delivery; Operating Model; and Clinical.

The AND Organisational Change Unit highlighted to the Committee that steady progress of the roll-out is reported and the current phase will see the most fundamental shift as Regions map services to IHA structures in advance of planned go live by 03 March 2026. The Committee discussed the considerable HR process required in appointing the Integrated Healthcare Area Service Leads and General Managers, as well as challenges around union engagement and it was agreed that another update would come to the Committee outlining the Industrial Relations processes as well as public perception to the changes.

M Power and J Shortt left the meeting

No matters arose under this item.

The meeting ended at 14:12.