Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The call has been made and we are acting upon it. The Minister and the HSE are awaiting receipt of the information requested. I repeat that on 30 September a circular letter was sent from the national director of human resources in the HSE and it could not have been any clearer. It required that the agencies involved respond in writing by today to the HSE and that:

1. Remuneration payable is in accordance with the Department of Health consolidated salary scales.

2. Non-Exchequer sources of funding are not used to exceed approved rates of remuneration [to give rise to rates of individual remuneration that exceed Department of Health consolidated pay scales].

3. The payment of all unsanctioned payments has ceased.

In addition, where appropriate, such as under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, this should be dealt with as expeditiously as possible. The information arose from the analysis of last May, followed by the instruction by the Minister for Health to carry out an internal audit. That audit has been sent to all the agencies involved, with two clear, strong and straight letters, and a reply is to be received by today so the Minister and the HSE can have a clear picture of what is involved. As I mentioned to Deputy Martin, people in the Department of Health and across the public service have seen serious change and their lifestyles impacted upon.

At certain levels, unapproved payments have been made from other sources to top up people's salaries. I hope that is clear. When the report comes to the Minister from the HSE it will be published and debated. The HSE has contracts with the section 38 agencies and can follow through in respect of the recoupment of any such unauthorised allowances as part of the contract.

See this speech in context