Mr. Barry O'Brien:

I will address the questions. So far as the HSE is concerned, the key challenge is that there is full compliance with public pay policy. That requires St. Vincent's to make a number of key decisions and to take a number of key actions.

Ultimately, however, what the Health Service Executive wants to see is that all public servants under its remit would be in full compliance with public pay policy. We have set that out clearly in terms of the choices that are there. The situation in regard to Mr. Jermyn is one challenge, but we have asked St. Vincent's to cease the additional payments immediately in respect of the other two staff members. In regard to Mr. Jermyn, the options, as the HSE sees it, are that he reverts to being the CEO of the public hospital only or he becomes CEO of the St. Vincent's Healthcare Group, thereby removing any liability from the public purse to fund such a post. In either event, we require a decision to be implemented at the earliest possible date, in accordance with our requirements of all other section 38 agencies. We have met on two occasions and have clearly set out our position. We reiterated that position formally in writing yesterday, and it remains the position today.