Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 12 June 2014

Public Accounts Committee

2012 Annual Report and Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 38 - Health
Vote 39 - Health Service Executive
Chapter 21 - Budget Management in Health Service Executive
Chapter 22 - Eligibility for Medical Cards

11:10 am

Mr. Tony O'Brien:

Obviously, that will have to be examined on a case-by-case basis, based on the evidence put forward of the legal entitlement. We do not yet have any of that information and therefore it would be wrong to seek to prejudge it. Essentially, we are dealing with institutions in several cases which have asserted that there is a legal obligation to pay. At present we are asking them to show us the evidence. That evidence will be differentiated on a case-by-case basis. In some cases it may be solid and in other cases it may be not so solid. We will have to examine it on a case-by-case basis. It would be wrong for me to prejudge that until we have seen it.