Discussions 'ongoing' about failed ventilator deal with festival company Roqu

Nine months ago, as Ireland urgently needed specialised medical devices, the HSE’s procurement division took a liberal approach to due diligence, writes Cianan Brennan

Nine months ago Ireland, and much of the world,  had to source ventilators in order to allow medical practitioners to simply do their job without endangering themselves, or others. File photo: Morris Mac Matzen

March 2020 was a fraught time for the HSE. While the situation in Ireland is currently facing is dreadful, it doesn’t have quite the apocalyptic feel of the beginning of the pandemic, when no one among us even knew what a lockdown was.

Nine months ago Ireland, and much of the world, faced a terrifying hurdle - the urgent need to acquire vast quantities of personal protective equipment (PPE) and specialised medical devices like ventilators in order to allow medical practitioners to simply do their job without endangering themselves, or others.