HSE seeks answers in nepotism controversy

THE Health Service Executive has demanded urgent answers from staff in Cork and Limerick after it was revealed that several family members of HSE employees were recruited to well-paid temporary jobs without an open competition.

HSE chairman Liam Downey and chief executive Brendan Drumm have asked for a review of the manner in which a number of people were appointed to temporary positions as community welfare officers (CWOs) and clerical officers in its south and mid-west regions.

The Irish Examiner has established that at least seven positions, four in Cork and three in Limerick, were filled by spouses and children of existing HSE staff.

Prof Drumm has sought reassurance that no HSE procedures were breached in the manner in which such staff were recruited. Under HSE recruitment policy, all vacancies are generally filled by open competition, with posts advertised in national and local media as well as on the HSE’s own website.

None of 13 temporary positions as Grade 3 clerical officers in the HSE South region were advertised, while the vacancies in Limerick were only advertised to existing staff. A HSE source said the “vast majority” of 15 temporary CWOs working in Limerick were family members and friends of HSE staff.

Among those to be appointed to jobs, which carry an annual salary of over €29,000, were Rosaleen Walsh, daughter of HSE project officer Ignatius Walsh; Killian O’Sullivan, husband of HSE CWO Geraldine O’Rourke; and Kevin Gaffney, husband of HSE CWO Anne Mulcair.

The daughter of the HSE Mid-West’s acting director of social inclusion, Tony Quilty, was also interviewed for a post. Mr Quilty declined to comment when contacted yesterday.

Among those to obtain jobs with an annual salary of over €23,000 in the HSE South area were Orlaith Healy, the daughter of HSE South regional director of operations Pat Healy; Gillian O’Brien, daughter of HSE South assistant national director of human resources Barry O’Brien; Richard Laide, son of HSE South senior finance official Mick Laide; and Mark O’Donovan, son of HSE head of procurement John O’Donovan.

The HSE South said it had applied the Code of Practice for Emergency Short Term Appointments to fill its vacancies due to the short timeframe involved. Such a code allows the HSE to hire staff from people whose CVs are on file. The HSE Mid-West has so far failed to respond to questions submitted by the Irish Examiner on Friday.

Health Minister Mary Harney said she was aware of the controversy and was “looking forward” to hearing the outcome of the HSE’s examination.

Fine Gael health spokesperson Dr James Reilly described the revelations as “blatant examples of nepotism”.

The furore over HSE vacancies comes after the Irish Examiner revealed that just one out of 314 applicants from the private sector has succeeded in securing a high-ranking job in the civil service since 2005. It subsequently emerged the lone recruit from the private sector to a rank above assistant secretary had previously worked as a civil servant.

Chairman of the Top Level Appointments Committee Ciarán Connolly said there was “significant enough” expertise being recruited into the civil service from the private sector.