Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Is it not part of the problem that the Cabinet is in breach of Government guidelines in the pay being awarded to some special advisers? Is that not a difficulty for the Government? Some of the reports in the media suggest the Department of Health has been aware since at least 1998, although I do not know the truth of that. The reports indicate that from 1998 some of these organisations have paid chief officers over and above HSE pay scales through other resources. In the children's hospital at Crumlin, a €30,000 top-up came from the proceeds of the shop. Is this where fees for car parks are going? Are they going to elite personalities? More top HSE executives are on salaries of over €100,000 this year than there were last year. The problem is there is still a culture of privilege, which permeates into this institution and the Government which the Taoiseach is charged with leading.

Does the Taoiseach agree there needs to be leadership by example and this culture of privilege is fuelled by the actions of the Ministers in breaching pay guidelines at a time of major hardship for the vast majority of citizens? I hope the refusal to provide bilateral cochlear implants or help children with disabilities will be rectified if we are still providing large top-ups. This is a call that the Taoiseach should act on in dealing with and getting rid of this culture of privilege.

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