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07/05/2009
Opposition Outraged Over Consultant Pay Bungle
Ireland's opposition parties have reacted with outrage over revelations the taxpayer will be forced to fork out after a consultant's pay error.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has expressed anger after it emerged taxpayers may have to fork out €50m this year because of a glitch in the contracts for consultants hired by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
HSE Chief Executive Brendan Drumm told the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee that the HSE may be left with the bill when private patients are referred to hospitals by certain consultants.
He said the problem was not foreseen during negotiations on new contracts for consultants, but the HSE was working to fix the situation.
Mr Kenny has described the revelation as "scandalous" adding taxpayers will have to pay for another cock-up by the HSE.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party have joined in the accusing the Governement of a major blunder.
The irregularity in the new contract for hospital consultants, which came to light at the Public Accounts Committee that could leave the HSE out of pocket to the tune of €50m this year, is a massive blunder.
Jan O'Sullivan, Labour's Spokesperson on Health, said: "Surely it's not too much to expect that the Minister and officials in her Dept would take extra care with this contract, particularly since it has taken years to negotiate. The i's should have been dotted and the t's crossed, but that clearly did not happen.
"This contract is already costing the taxpayer a tidy sum, thanks to the huge fees agreed with the consultants. Our health services are creaking, and an additional €50m hit like this, especially when it has come about as a result of carelessness, is completely unacceptable."
(DW/BMcC)
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has expressed anger after it emerged taxpayers may have to fork out €50m this year because of a glitch in the contracts for consultants hired by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
HSE Chief Executive Brendan Drumm told the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee that the HSE may be left with the bill when private patients are referred to hospitals by certain consultants.
He said the problem was not foreseen during negotiations on new contracts for consultants, but the HSE was working to fix the situation.
Mr Kenny has described the revelation as "scandalous" adding taxpayers will have to pay for another cock-up by the HSE.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party have joined in the accusing the Governement of a major blunder.
The irregularity in the new contract for hospital consultants, which came to light at the Public Accounts Committee that could leave the HSE out of pocket to the tune of €50m this year, is a massive blunder.
Jan O'Sullivan, Labour's Spokesperson on Health, said: "Surely it's not too much to expect that the Minister and officials in her Dept would take extra care with this contract, particularly since it has taken years to negotiate. The i's should have been dotted and the t's crossed, but that clearly did not happen.
"This contract is already costing the taxpayer a tidy sum, thanks to the huge fees agreed with the consultants. Our health services are creaking, and an additional €50m hit like this, especially when it has come about as a result of carelessness, is completely unacceptable."
(DW/BMcC)
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Sixty New Consultant Posts Announced By HSE
The Health Service Executive has announced 60 new consultant posts for 24 hospitals that have high-performing Accident and Emergency departments. The move is part of the HSE's 100 Plus reward scheme, under which the HSE pledged to appoint 100 new consultants to hospitals whose A&E departments met their targets.
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31 July 2012
Retired Consultant Surgeon Charged With 25 Counts Of Indecent Assault
A retired consultant surgeon has appeared in court accused of indecently assaulting 16 young males over three decades at Our Lady's Hospital in Drogheda. Dr Michael Shine, 80, of Wellington Road in Dublin, was charged with 25 counts of indecent assault. He denied all 24 charges, and he said he was not in Ireland at the time of the other charge.
Retired Consultant Surgeon Charged With 25 Counts Of Indecent Assault
A retired consultant surgeon has appeared in court accused of indecently assaulting 16 young males over three decades at Our Lady's Hospital in Drogheda. Dr Michael Shine, 80, of Wellington Road in Dublin, was charged with 25 counts of indecent assault. He denied all 24 charges, and he said he was not in Ireland at the time of the other charge.
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Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
