Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Some €220. I thank Mr. Menton. That is very helpful. I think Professor Whelan will acknowledge, not withstanding the sterling service he provides to patients, that €220 million of public funding is, by any stretch, a very significant level of funding. He will be aware also that the FEMPI legislation dates to 2008 and that there is an expectation at all times, but particularly in difficult times, that bodies and organisations in receipt of State funding respect the rules and regulations that come with that. I am sure Professor Whelan will agree with me on that and in that spirit I find the learned advice of Mr. McDowell, senior counsel, notwithstanding. I am really struggling to get to grips with what appears to be his position to this moment that topping up salaries was not blatantly disregarding the rules and regulations stated repeatedly by way of circular from the HSE and made explicitly clear to him, and that he still does not accept that was in breach of the rules and regulations, the basis upon which €220 million of taxpayers' moneys were channelled to his hospitals.