Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she is satisfied that agencies under the aegis of her Department, and hospitals under the aegis of the Health Service Executive, are complying with the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997; if she has issued instructions or directives to ensure compliance with this Act, if her attention has been drawn to late payments arising in the health sector generally to suppliers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5894/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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As the Deputy will be aware the agencies under the aegis of my Department and the hospitals under the aegis of the HSE are public bodies for the purpose of all Prompt Payment Legislation, including the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997 and the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2002, and are therefore obliged to comply with the provisions of the legislation. It is a matter for each agency to ensure that it complies with the legislation. The 2008 Accounts for each of the agencies under the aegis of my Department have been examined and the Comptroller and Auditor General has not referenced any case where prompt payment legislation has been breached. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Health Services Executive to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy in relation to hospitals under the aegis of the HSE.