[ad_1]
A multi-million dollar deal to bring medical ventilators to Ireland caused the HSE to pay cash up front a month in advance to a company with no business history.
HSE paid Roqu Media International Limited, a Dublin-based company with a history of managing festivals in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Bulgaria, € 14.1 million for the supply of Boaray and Eternity intensive care ventilators “on 23 March or around that date. ” year Ireland faced its first lockdown.
There was a high demand for ventilators by health services around the world as a key treatment for the most vulnerable Covid-19 patients.
In an invitation to the media to attend the arrival of the “fourth and final” delivery to Shannon on April 25, Roqu said that 100 fans had already arrived in Ireland, with another 100 awaiting the imminent flight.
That transport was finally canceled “due to technical difficulties with the flight,” according to Roqu.
The ventilators that arrived in Ireland were never installed in clinical settings due to “issues with the quality of the products delivered,” the HSE said.
However, doubts remain about a “refund” apparently granted by Roqu to the HSE.
The HSE said that although Roqu was initially paid 14.1 million euros, he subsequently received a refund of just over 2.7 million euros after his original purchase order was “adjusted / reduced”.
This figure is indicated on the official invoice supplied to HSE in respect of the contract.
Robert Quirke, owner of Roqu, said that his company had offered a refund to the HSE and, in fact, amounted to 3.8 million euros, as “it had become clear to the HSE that the number of fans needed was less than initially expected, which was good. ” “.
He said that at the time Roqu had brought 72 fans to Ireland, as opposed to the 200 mentioned in his April media invitation.
When asked why the refund mentioned on Roqu’s HSE invoice did not match the 3.8 million euros, Mr. Quirke said that “the original invoice has since been credited and re-invoiced for a lesser amount of 10.3 million euros “.
At the time of the contract, Roqu Media International Limited had current assets of just € 122 and no business history, according to its 2018 accounts.
The HSE said it no longer uses Roqu’s service.
A spokesperson said it is “in continuous discussion with Roqu with a view to solving all the problems.”
[ad_2]