Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

These issues are emerging as a result of an audit carried out by the HSE of section 38 agencies, which are hospitals and disability agencies. I do not know when these were originally sanctioned or when they came into being. This Government is attempting to weed out additional sweeteners and expenditure in the health service at a time when any funding, Exchequer or private, should be going into the provision of services to patients and not to unsanctioned payments to senior managers. Front-line staff working in the health services are working within the Government's pay policy and playing their part, a critical part, in the reform of health services through new working practices and rosters. The same rules must and will apply to senior managers as those on the front line. We need a clear picture of the position. On foot of a circular sent out in September by the Department of Health, clearly restating public pay policy, the HSE wrote to all agencies, of which there are 38. On 30 September, copies of the HSE audit, which I have here, were circulated to each of the agencies setting out Government pay policy. The agencies were requested to respond by 28 October, ensuring compliance. Some 33 agencies responded, some with a holding position and others requesting to seek legal advice. On 5 November, the HSE wrote to the agencies reiterating the requirement to respond and to ensure compliance with the deadline of today, 19 November. Before I came to the Chamber I checked on this and, of the 44 agencies involved, seven have confirmed compliance, 13 have confirmed non-compliance and others need more time to determine compliance, require more time to get legal advice or have not responded. The information sent out as part of the documentation circulated by the HSE states:

The Department of Health Consolidated Salary Scales (1 July 2013), as sanctioned by the Minister for Health, sets out current salaries for public health service staff. These salary scales must be strictly adhered to and in no circumstances should an employee receive remuneration in the nature of pay and allowances of any amount greater than the amount prescribed. Non-Exchequer sources of funding may not be used to supplement approved rates of remuneration.

It is very clear and straight.

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