Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 11 December 2013

Public Accounts Committee

Section 38 - Agencies Remuneration

1:25 pm

Mr. David Martin:

Pardon me. With regard to that particular question, as I said earlier, we took a view. When we spoke to the HSE back in 2009 we explained the difficulties that the CRC had with a number of contracts that people had with the clinic regarding their salary. In that respect, we took a view - sorry we did not take a view - but are legally bound to meet those commitments. I am not going to go out there and start breaking contracts that were legally binding. Apart from the fact that when we looked at it, we said okay what if we do that, then what will it cost us. It is the lesser of two evils, as always.