Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, for the complex reply. Two of those with whom I am involved have spent almost 40 years in St. Loman's Hospital in Mullingar. They have been working in one area and there is no complexity. I have one who retired some months ago due to ill health and has not received anything. This lady is in a difficult financial position and had to retire on health grounds. We owe it to them.

I was here when the Prompt Payment of Accounts Bill 1997 was enacted under which State bodies got 30 days grace to pay or otherwise there would be penalties. The State is dilatory and negligent. The HSE should have known. Of course, they knew who would retire. If a person had 38 or 39 years' service, anybody would know he or she would retire. All they had to do was check the records. This is not good enough. I will not settle for this type of thing ever happening again. It is something the Minister of State would address.

I compliment the staff who are trying to work to the nth degree and the best of their ability to deal with the matter. Not enough staff were allocated to this task in the Dublin and mid-Leinster region. It is only in recent days they started to get their wheel out after receiving letters. I sent my letter the other day to Mr. Magee, the chief executive officer of the HSE. This should have been well flagged.

If this ever happens again, the outstanding payments should be levied against the State body involved. At the end of the day, suppliers are entitled to get interest if the State does not honour its 30 day commitment, and individuals who have given significant service to the State in their work should likewise be remunerated.

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