Bitter war of words erupts over €40,000 payroll system knees-up

THE row over whether taxpayers footed the €40,000 bill for a party to celebrate the “success” of the health service’s chaotic payroll system turned increasingly bitter last night.

Fianna Fáil deputy chief whip Billy Kelleher accused Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny of “misleading” the country over the matter.

Mr Kelleher insisted civil servants had attended a regular Christmas party in Sligo last December not linked to the PPARS computer system.