Ms Oonagh Buckley:

It appears, with respect to my Secretary General and this illustrious committee, that the letter which is a statement of fact cannot in any way override Government policy dating from the 1970s and, more particularly, represents a firm statement of the Government policy issued by the parent Department via the HSE to each of these agencies. That statement which was prepared in consultation with the Department is very clear in restating the basic principle, that is, if a person is a public servant, he or she cannot receive additional moneys from any source in respect of that employment.