Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 24 November 2021

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach

Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Supplementary)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Supplementary)

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

No, it relates to managers within the HSE or health service or whatever it was at that time in 2007. It affects payment to health service senior managers, serving and retired. The recommendation was made and, as I said, it went through the Labour Court hearing. It was upheld and both sides seem to have accepted it.

Since then, what I find very disturbing about the whole thing is that senior officials do not even bother to respond and Ministers over that period did not bother to respond. Surely, former employees of the State should be at least extended the courtesy of a reply to explain why an accepted report is not being acted on and why they are not being paid. I met them again recently and it stuck in their craw, as they say down the country, that one Secretary General's pay was increased by €80,000 on a nod yet those who served in the service were denied it; not to that extent of an increase but they were denied what was recommended.

I understand why the Minister would not have this information with him and I did not advise him either that this matter was going to be raised. Therefore, I accept what he is saying. I ask in the context of fair play and good manners, however, that the Department should at least reach out to them. I ask if the Minister to please undertake that.

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