Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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103. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has held discussions with representatives of providers of professional services to the State in respect of cuts made to professional fees under financial emergency measures in the public interest legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9828/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Sections 9 and 10 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Act 2009 provides for the making of regulations by the Minister for Health, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to reduce the amount or the rate of payments to health professionals in respect of any services that they render to or on behalf of a Health Body.  The Act provides for appropriate consultation by the Minister for Health in the making of such regulations. Similar powers are also provided to other Ministers in respect of any services rendered to or on behalf of the Ministers.  I have not been party to any discussions or consultations undertaken by other Ministers under the terms of Act.  

However, where the service rendered to the State, by any person, is not rendered to (or on behalf of, or under the aegis of) a Minister of Government, it is taken to be rendered to myself as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, so that any regulation under the Act is to be made, and any consultation undertaken, by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.  In this context, consultations were held with representatives of the State Solicitors prior to the enactment of Statutory Instrument No. 231/2013 in June 2013 which made provision for a reduction in the rate of certain payments made in respect of services provided by State Solicitors. I have had no further consultations or discussions with service providers in relation to reductions effected under Section 9 and 10 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Act 2009 to date.