Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I commend you, a Chathaoirligh, on your speech this morning in the Lower House.

It will come as no surprise that I am again raising the secondment of Dr. Tony Holohan, the Chief Medical Officer, to the public health professorship in Trinity College Dublin. This morning, the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, said on "Morning Ireland" that he did not sign off on it. Last night, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy McGrath, said he was not involved. He said it was unusual. Yesterday, the Taoiseach said he did not sign off on it. Both he and the Minister for Health did not sign off on it, but the reality is somebody did sign off on it. The question that needs to be answered is, why are we, the taxpayers, paying the salary of the outgoing CMO in Trinity College Dublin and paying the salary of the new Chief Medical Officer? Why is Trinity College Dublin not paying the salary for the newly created position?

This morning, the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, added to the confusion and muddied the waters by his intervention in the interview. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform have nothing to do with it, according to themselves. As I said yesterday and in making my remarks again today, this is not personal. I commend the role Dr. Holohan played. I accept the points made by the Minister for Health this morning. He said we are coming off the back of a pandemic and we must learn to deliver better outcomes in the delivery of healthcare in case of a future pandemic. However, there is something not right when this situation is allowed to happen. The three pertinent Ministers, the Taoiseach, the Minister for Health and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, had nothing to say or do with regard to signing off on the role. The Cathaoirleach and the acting Leader will agree it is unusual that a person who is being seconded is being paid by the State and then the State is hiring a Chief Medical Officer. I have another important question. Is the position for one year, two years or five years, and will the new Chief Medical Officer be in place for one year, two years or five years? In fairness to the House, we need answers, and that should happen as a matter of priority.