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

We expect all of the disclosures to be made by the close of business today, 6 p.m. The HSE will then take some time to examine them, with any extenuating circumstance and any contractual or legal issue that arises. The Government is committed to public pay policy being adhered to in section 38 agencies and hospitals. The rationale is quite simple. Staff of these bodies enjoy all of the privileges, including permanency and other arrangements, enjoyed by public servants generally. Therefore, they must be held accountable and submit to the arrangements that apply to public servants in general.

It is interesting to note the spirit in which Deputy Seán Fleming has raised this issue and his questions about the action we are going to take. It was during the terms of office of successive Fianna Fáil-led Governments that these arrangements first started and were allowed to continue. It is only now, when the Government has identified them and is taking action, that the Deputy and his colleagues have become concerned.

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