Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the new chief executive officer of the Health Service Executive will commence working; if their job description is the same as that of their predecessor; if they have been asked to focus on any particular elements of the job; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25898/10]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) was offered the position of chief executive of the Health Service Executive and was then allowed negotiate their salary; if a further person (details supplied) was offered the same salary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26803/10]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the pension rights and entitlements which will accrue to a person (details supplied) as chief executive of the Health Service Executive in addition to their salary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26804/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I propose to takes Questions Nos. 63, 238 and 239 together.

I am informed by the Health Service Executive that Mr. Cathal McGee will take up his appointment as Chief Executive Officer on 1st September 2010, to succeed Professor Brendan Drumm, whose term of office ends in mid-August. In accordance with Section 17 of the Health Act 2004, the HSE Board is responsible for making this appointment. There was an extensive recruitment process undertaken by the Board to fill this position. Details of the recruitment process, including interactions with other potential candidates, are a matter for the Board of the HSE and so this aspect of your question has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

However, I can confirm that the HSE sought approval to offer the proposed appointee a higher salary than the rate set by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector. I believed that the proposed remuneration package was appropriate, given the scale of the job and the need to secure the services of a new CEO, who I am assured is of the highest calibre. On that basis, my Department sought and received sanction from the Minister for Finance for the remuneration package, including a pension contribution of 25% of basic salary to a private pension fund, nominated by the appointee, in lieu of membership of the HSE Superannuation Scheme.