PAC seeks explanation on hospital pay top-ups

Members of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee are to seek to have the chairs of the board of voluntary hospitals and health agencies called to give evidence on top-up payments to senior executives in their organisations.

Louth TD Gerald Nash said the voluntary hospitals and health agencies received substantial amounts of public money and the boards of the organisation's set policy, including pay levels.

Mr Nash said he would be backing calls at a meeting tomorrow of the Public Accounts Committee for it to hold special hearings into the controversy surrounding executive remuneration in State-funded voluntary hospitals and health agencies.

Fianna Fáil member of the committee Sean Fleming said the chairs of boards found not to be in compliance with Government pay policy in relation to executive remuneration should be asked to testify.

The chairman of the Public Accounts Committee John McGuinness said yesterday that he would be pressing for special hearings to be held.

He said any such hearings would involve calling senior officials of the Department of Health, the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny yesterday said he wanted to weed out any additional sweetners provided by State-funded voluntary hospitals and agencies to senior executives.

Minister for Health James Reilly also said he wanted the practice to end.

The HSE is expected to provide a full report to the Government in the coming days on the number of voluntary hospitals and agencies which are not in compliance with pay policy.