Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Everyone agrees the testimony given yesterday to the Committee of Public Accounts by former and current members of the board of the Central Remedial Clinic, CRC, was both shocking in content and arrogant in its delivery. Members now have it that in addition to paying top-ups to senior executives, there also are gold-plated retirement packages being doled out and appointments being made in open defiance of HSE guidelines. As someone who sits on that committee, I must state that as matters unfolded, I was minded of Myles na gCopaleen, because one literally could not have made up the story the committee was told. Perhaps the Tánaiste and his colleagues in government are now almost breathing a sigh of relief because in a way, the CRC being at the eye of the storm takes the eye off the Government and in particular, away from the Minister for Health and his shambolic stewardship of the portfolio. I caught sight of the Minister, Deputy Reilly, on television commenting on this matter and it struck me that he looked like a disinterested observer or as someone who had been vox popped while out Christmas shopping. The truth is that these top-ups in the CRC have been known about by the system since 2009. Incidentally, Members should remember that Fianna Fáil was in charge at the time. Senior HSE management was ignored and was virtually told to get lost by the board of the CRC. Notwithstanding the audit carried out in March of this year, in December Members still do not know the full extent of the top-ups in the system or of other breaches. While it is commendable of the Tánaiste to recognise the work of the Committee of Public accounts, it is not enough.

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