HSE manager queried 'patriotic' request for pay cut

A HEALTH Service Executive (HSE) manager could not understand a request by an employee to have his salary reduced by 5 per cent as an "act of patriotism", the Dáil has heard.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny who read out details of a HSE letter, said the employee had written to the executive with the request to cut his salary by 5 per cent for 2009.

The HSE had written back to the worker, told him his request was "unusual", and said: "I would be grateful if you would assist my understanding of your request before I consider appropriate actions."

Mr Kenny described the HSE's response as "nonsensical", and said "the same HSE will award itself bonuses for managers" when health services were being "shafted".

He asked Taoiseach Brian Cowen if he could "imagine anything as nonsensical as the HSE replying to its own employee in such a manner". He said later that HSE managers' pay had risen some €96 million in three years, with bonus payments of €1 million.

Dinny McGinley (FG, Donegal South-West) shouted that "he would have received a better response if he sought an increase".

Mr Cowen said if Mr Kenny sent him a copy of the letter "I will follow it up".

The Taoiseach said the Government had increased funding in the health sector. The "public service pay pause" applied to the health service as well as other services.

"It is important to point out that even with these savings and the efforts to economise that are necessary to restore order to the public finances, next year we'll still borrow €4.7 billion more than we are earning on a day-to-day basis."