Mr. Barry O'Brien:

I would like to make a couple of points. If you look back at the opening statement on the last day from Mr. Tony O'Brien, our director general, it is important to note that he clearly advised members of the committee that between March and November 2011, the HSE at the request of the Department of Health sought to establish the level of compliance by section 38 agencies with various aspects of approved public sector pay policy. We would have corresponded with all section 38 agencies rather than with the CRC specifically. We were actively pursuing compliance with public pay policy in 2011 and were doing a number of things whereby we would have asked them to confirm their compliance with FEMPI and the issue of pay-related schemes. We also restated the fact that in September 2011, we sought specifically from all section 38 agencies confirmation that CEOs were not in receipt of additional remuneration from any services or duties required by virtue of their role. We were pursuing these matters across all the section 38 agencies.