Mr. Tony O'Brien:

With regard to the first point, the HSE does not have a role in approving the different salary scales and the consolidated salary scale document, because that function is, in effect, discharged between the two Departments and ourselves. We could have a role in proposing or supporting business cases that may come in respect of new roles or in respect of these, but we have not historically been in a position of putting forward arguments either for reductions or increases in the approved rates of pay. That is clearly something we may need to consider in this context and particularly as posts become vacant.

The boards of voluntary hospitals have the same type of general governance responsibility as those of any enterprise, and one would expect the chair of the board, the remuneration committee and the audit and risk committee would have a strong view and appropriate internal approval processes for all issues of senior management remuneration. It should not be possible without board level approval for any adjustment or commencement of the initial salary to take place and be processed within the financial regulations of the institution.