Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Again, the HSE is an agency charged by the Oireachtas to run its affairs and organise health services across the country. There has been a slimming down of the centre and delegation to the regions. The position in the case in question was suppressed and there were legal issues as a result. Whether we like it or not, people are entitled to take a case. There was legal mediation that resulted in redundancy plus a settlement. The HSE took the decision that it wanted to reorganise and do things in an effective way, and that resulted in what has occurred. I can understand people's views on the size of the pay-off – the person was in office since 2017 – but neither I nor the Government can get involved in the affairs of every single agency to try to govern it in place of its CEO and board.

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