HSE ‘liable for spending spree’ on trips

THE boss of the HSE has said his organisation must take responsibility for accountancy failures related to the spending of millions of euro of ‘partnership funding’ some of which was used to finance at least 21 foreign trips by dozens of state employees and trade union officials.

At a meeting of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee yesterday enquiring into the health services Skill-training programme and HSE National Partnership Programme, HSE chief executive Cathal McGee said since its founding in 2005 the HSE “had accountancy responsibility, no argument” for both schemes.

However, no comprehensive audit had taken place of their spending until this year.

Referring to a number of recently completed audit reports into the schemes, Mr Magee said it was “clear that there has been a systemic failure to adhere to the financial travel and procurement regulations of the HSE.”

Mr McGee added that former Skill programme general manager Alan Smith, who retired from the HSE in May 2009, had refused to co-operate with an investigation into the scheme. He said this was “not acceptable for a former public servant” but Mr Smith could not be compelled to assist.

Mr Magee said once all investigations were completed, including an outstanding enquiry by SIPTU, disciplinary action would be considered.

In contrast, the secretary general of the department of health, Micheal Scanlan said though several of his officials had taken part on trips paid out of funds there had been “no impropriety”.

Fianna Fáil TD Michael McGrath said it seemed that the price of industrial peace was “bringing people on jollies”.

Mr Scanlan admitted he had personally authorised some of the trips but at the time had been unaware that they were paid for from a subsidiary fund — SIPTU National Health and Local Authority Fund — administered by union officials.

He also admitted that four department officials had both availed of trips funded in this way and at other times authorised others to take part in them.

Referring to a letter sent by then Minister For Health Micheál Martin to the SIPTU official Matt Merrigan who administered the trips, Labour’s Roisín Shortall said it was clear the large amounts of monies issued to the funds could not have been done “without ministerial support”.

Committee chairman Bernard Allen said he knew of “no established democracy in this world where this type of carry-on could have happened other than here”.