The HSE will start grilling specific voluntary hospitals and agencies embroiled in the top-ups controversy today over why they believe senior managers should be paid second salaries.

While the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) is at the centre of the top-ups controversy, it is just one of 13 voluntary hospitals and agencies paying bosses extra salaries from “privately funded” sources.

OURS is the first generation in the history of the State where the provision of social services is mainly non-denominationalal.

The controversy over top-up payments to senior staff at the Central Remedial Clinic has erupted into an angry war of words between the organisation’s ex-chairman and the HSE.

All health bodies giving top-ups to senior officials will be hauled before the head of the HSE between now and Christmas to explain how they will “immediately” end the ‘second salaries’ culture.

THE watershed jailing of former lobbyist Frank Dunlop for corruption was met with muted response within political circles.

THE Government will need to find €150 billion over the next five years to steer the country out ofrecession — the equivalent of doubling the current tax take.

FORMER Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has defended telling the Mahon Tribunal earlier this year that he was unaware when his former partner, Celia Larkin, repaid a £30,000 loan to Fianna Fáil, even though he was in direct contact with her on the issue.

BERTIE AHERN’S former partner Celia Larkin was given an unsecured £30,000 loan by Fianna Fáil 15 years ago — but it was only repaid “in the period since Christmas”, the Mahon Tribunal learned yesterday.

The planning tribunal has today seen a report by the Taoiseach's banking expert concerning a lodgement made by Bertie Ahern in 1994 which equates to $45,000 (€31,939).

BERTIE AHERN yesterday admitted he did not inform the tribunal about purchasing stg£30,000 to pay back businessman Michael Wall despite it being a “unique” event.

BOTH Bertie Ahern and the late Charles Haughey turned to the same forensic accountant when the tribunals of inquiry sought extensive reports on their financial dealings.

BORED to death is how some felt after the forensic trawl through document after document that lasted for five hours at Dublin Castle yesterday.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has reportedly used Charlie Haughey's former tax adviser to help prepare his financial records for the Mahon Tribunal.

POLITICAL and business leaders joined members of Charles Haughey’s family yesterday in a requiem Mass for the former Taoiseach at Our Lady of Consolation Church in Donnycarney.

FORMER Taoiseach Charles J Haughey put his beloved Georgian mansion Abbeville on the line when settling his tax bill with the Revenue Commissioners for €5 million, the Moriarty Tribunal heard yesterday.

THE Revenue Commissioners has defended tax clearance certificates as a way of vetting for tax compliance in the face of criticism that Fianna Fáil TD Michael Collins was able to get a cert while owing thousands in unpaid taxes.

FORMER Taoiseach Charles Haughey is likely to come under pressure to sell off another part of his beloved Abbeville estate to finance a €5m tax bill.

TÁNAISTE Mary Harney and the legal profession appeared to be on a collision course last night over proposals to reduce the cost of compensation claims.

THE Tánaiste has rejected claims that the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) would cost over €38.1 million annually to run.

A leading accountant has told the Cooper-Flynn libel trial that the Clerical Medical International investment scheme was clearly for the avoidance of tax.