FG raises €56m IT contract fear

FINE Gael last night warned the health service could be heading for another major computer fiasco as question marks were raised over the future of a company awarded a €56 million contract.

Party’s health spokesman Liam Twomey expressed alarm at reports the Manchester-based firm iSoft may be in financial difficulties.

Mr Twomey questioned the firm’s accounting practices and software and why the HSE signed its contract with the firm on a Saturday, the final day of the financial year in 2005.

Concern over the future of iSoft rose after reports it must release delayed financial results to the stock market by Friday or trading in its shares will be suspended.

The HSE said it was “closely monitoring” the situation. It has already paid €10m to iSoft as part of a 10-year contract to improve patient record-keeping.

Mr Twomey claimed the situation proved the Government learned little from the €160m PPARS flop computer system. “The real fear now is that the €56m in taxpayers’ money signed off in a rush for software that doesn’t look like it will see the light of day will prove to be a case of more money flushed down the toilet by this Government,” he said. A spokesman for iSoft said the contract had started to be implemented and iSoft was confident it would be completed.