Taoiseach rules out public inquiry into health executive salaries

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has ruled out a public inquiry into top-ups in salaries for health executives amid heated exchanges in the Dáil today with Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams.

“I do not agree that this warrants an independent public inqiry,’’ said Mr Kenny.

“I believe that the instructions given by the Minister for Health will be seen through by the HSE and, for their part, by the Public Accounts Committe in the discussions they have.’’

He said representatives of the Central Remedial Committee would appear before the Public Accounts Committee tomorrow and he expected there would be "frank exchanges''.

Earlier, when calling for a public inquiry, Mr Adams said every day brought new revelations about the health services and the scandal of top-ups.

“There is hardly a week goes past without some revelation of how corruption, and the culture which underpins it has contaminated many sectors of this State.’’

Mr Kenny said Mr Adams was absolutely correct to say that every day brought new revelations about other things.

“You are absolutely correct on that,’’ he added. “It just does not apply to the health service or issues about charities or anything else.’’ He added that he thought Mr Adams knew what he was talking about.

Mr Adams said he had asked the Taoiseach a question which was absolutely pertinent to what was happening at this time and dealing with revelations which had scandalised citizens.

He accused Mr Kenny of engaging in “a meander which is beyond my comprehension’’. He added that if Mr Kenny wanted to have a debate about the past, or about any other issue, he was quite happy to do so.

“We can arrange that at any time, any place where you are prepared to have it with me,’’ he added. “And we will examine the role of your party, historically...we will exmine the role of leaders of your party, historically, as well as my role and the role of anybody else involved in Irish republicanism.’’