Mr. Barry O'Brien:

The HSE position is absolutely clear. Nobody has authority to decide to employ somebody other than according to the guidelines. The issue is that these people are, first and foremost, public servants and they are fully encompassed by public service pay policy. We need to establish a key principle. In my view, it is not within the gift of St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group to determine that the salary of staff will be part paid as a public servant and part paid privately. One is either a public servant or one is not.