Dublin South West TD, Seán Crowe, has described the decision of Health Minister James Reilly and Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin, to approve a special salary deal for a HSE executive as disgraceful but hardly surprising.

The salary deal of nearly €200,000 per annum will be paid to a top HSE executive based on the salary top-up he received while he was CEO of St. Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin.

Crowe said that there was no special deals or top ups for low paid workers within the HSE and that this decision highlighted the gross inequalities that are already scattered right across Irish society.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“Ministers Reilly and Howlin have claimed that they want top-ups stopped but the duo approved a grossly excessive salary for the man appointed to be HSE executive in charge of running hospitals in the West.

“These same Ministers guaranteed him a salary of €195,000, a figure which is based on his former salary and top-up payments he received as the CEO of St. Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin.

“These Ministers are again guilty of double speak and reinforcing the gross inequalities that are already scattered right across Irish society, by refusing to enforce salary caps on high ranking public servants.

“They have continued and cultivated the culture of privilege at the top level of the HSE.

“We know that there are now 129 senior HSE executives on salaries of over €100,000 per annum. When Sinn Féin asked a parliamentary question in the Dáil at the beginning of 2012 we were told that 110 HSE executives were on over €100,000.

“At a time of seven cutbacks and a health service that needs huge reform in order to make it accessible and efficient for all, how are more executives getting paid these huge salaries?

“Minister Howlin has reduced the pay of nurses while Minister Reilly introduced a yellow pack, low-pay scheme for nurses as a further measure to drive down pay.

“Special pay deals are only possible when you are at the very top and have the ears of Cabinet Ministers.

Crowe further added:

“This latest example vindicates the call for a total rebalancing of pay in the health service and it needs to be undertaken without further delay, as part of any real reform of our struggling health system.

“Services for patients and decent pay and conditions for front-line workers also need to be prioritised if we are to have an inclusive and fairer society. Special privileges and excessive salaries for those at the top need to be eliminated.

“Ministers Reilly and Howlin need to stop their double speak and begin tackling the perks and privileges in and outside the health services.”

ENDS