James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I could say a great deal in response to the last speaker. First, however, I know of no official in the HSE being paid at the level the Deputy mentioned. If he is alluding to academic appointments, that might be a separate matter. Certainly, no official is being paid at the level the Deputy mentioned.

The pay of the Taoiseach is €100,000 less than when the Deputy's party was in power. We have reduced the pay for new entrants to the consultant grade. I still consider the rates fair at €116,000 to €121,000 when the starting figure in the UK is £80,000, which is less than €100,000. There are new controls being introduced in the insurance area as well to ensure we have audit and particularly clinical audit and that there is a review of what we pay for the procedures being performed. Some of them that used to take two hours now only take 20 minutes.

The Deputy mentioned a fairer society and that is an aspiration of this Government. However, it takes time to undo the damage that was done by the previous Government over the long period of time it was in office. Of course, it was the Deputy's Government that introduced the new consultant contract, which I welcomed only on the basis that it took consultants off the pitch in terms of being blamed for all the problems of the health service and not that it was a good deal for the taxpayer.

In respect of the substantive issue here, it is useful and important to repeat the point I made on Committee Stage, that an appointed director will not receive any additional remuneration by virtue of his or her appointment to the directorate. An appointed director will be remunerated on the basis of his or her substantive post of national director or other senior grade.

These substantive posts are very senior positions within the organisation and the salary levels set reflect the responsibilities undertaken. In the case of the director general, we must remember the difficult and very significant responsibilities attached to the job. As well as chairing the directorate, the director general will be responsible for managing the HSE, ensuring that Government policies are met and delivering on reform. The remuneration being offered for these posts reflects the demands of the posts and is consistent with Government pay policy. I would further point out that the HSE has 100,000 employees and is responsible for delivering an extremely complex health care system across the entire lifespan of our people and across multiple settings, including care in the home, in the community, in hospitals and in long-term care institutions. The remuneration reflects the serious responsibilities placed on the individuals concerned. Furthermore, the director general's salary is over one third less than that of the previous incumbent, the CEO of the HSE. In fairness, the moneys that are on offer here are commensurate with the nature and responsibilities of the job. It is important to note that being appointed a director does not increase that pay.

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