Heads of Department of Health, HSE to be questioned on top-ups

The Dáil Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is to call the heads of the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health to appear before it next week as part of a new investigation into top-up payments for senior executives in State funded voluntary hospitals and agencies.

The committee is also to write to all Government Departments to ask if similar top-up arrangements apply in other pars of the wider public service.

Louth TD Ged Nash said today the general public was "appalled" at what had been revealed in relation to the top up payments. He said there seemed to be "very much a 'because I'm worth it' culture in these organisations".

Dublin south TD Shane Ross said the committee should conduct investigations into the issue as a matter of urgency.

Committee chairman John McGuinness said it should begin its work by calling in the Department of Health and the HSE next week. He said it would then take advice on calling in the chief executives and the chairs of boards of the organisation subsequently.