Rehab ‘cannot force’ Kerins to attend PAC

Rehab has said it cannot force its former chief executive, Angela Kerins, to appear before next week’s meeting of the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee because she no longer works for the charity, as of today.

It was responding to comments from the committee chairman, John McGuinness, who said he “absolutely expects” Ms Kerins — along with her predecessor, Frank Flannery — to attend Thursday’s meeting as part of its examination of how the disability group spends €90m of State money a year.

Mr Flannery, who resigned last month as director of the Rehab board, as well as members of the remuneration committee, have all been invited to give evidence next week

In the absence of any correspondence, Mr McGuinness said it would be “unfair to speculate” on whether or not they will attend. “But it is no harm to make it clear that we intend to pursue our work next Thursday as agreed,” he said.

The committee yesterday sought clarification from the disability charity on whether they would attend. However, Rehab chairman Brian Kerr replied to the PAC last night saying he cannot force them to attend because they are no longer part of the organisation.

However, he has written to both Ms Kerins and Mr Flannery asking if they plan to attend.

Fine Gael’s Simon Harris said Rehab had been “dragging it on and on” and should give an indication of who was attending as quickly as possible.”

“I agree it would be unfair to speculate,” said Mr Harris. “But not nearly as unfair as Rehab’s treatment of taxpayers over the last number of days by refusing to tell us at this stage. The meeting is next week.”

Rehab also said it cannot reveal details of the pension or severance payments for Ms Kerins without her permission.

Independent TD Shane Ross said they were “playing cat and mouse” with the committee.

“Last time they didn’t bring in the people we asked them to bring in,” said Mr Ross. “Now they are refusing to say, or delaying saying who is coming in and who is not.”

Fine Gael Limerick TD Kieran O’Donnell said the focus on these two people was “not personal” but “to ensure that taxpayers’ money is spent in an efficient manner”.

“It’s important this whole module we are doing on charities is brought to a conclusion as quickly as possible,” said Mr O’Donnell. “Anyone I meet in the charity sector is saying ‘it’s tough on us and we want you to deal with it’.”

Ms Kerins’ annual remuneration package was worth €272,400 and her resignation comes more than four years ahead of her scheduled retirement at the age of 60.

The HSE has said that a report stating which health agencies are compliant with rules on topping up payments to senior staff will be finalised on April 14.

In what could result in a stand-off between two Oireachtas committees, the chair of the health committee said it — and not the PAC — should be responsible for discussing the report’s findings.

Hornet nests

By Fiachra Ó Cionnaith

The health service top-ups controversy has thrown the spotlight on a series of “hornet nests” which mean certain groups cannot be trusted to transparently spend taxpayers’ money.

HSE director general Tony O’Brien made the claim when asked about St Vincent’s Healthcare Group.

Speaking yesterday at the latest Oireachtas health committee meeting, he said a row between the HSE and the facility this week involves the alleged use of public money to support the group’s private hospital.

He said that, when the wider top-ups scandal first emerged, St Vincent’s assured the HSE doctors designed to work in the public hospital “rarely” filled gaps in its sister private facility. He said, that in recent weeks, it has emerged this was not the case, with the situation occurring “dozens of times” and a “series of legal arguments” now being put forward to defend the previously unknown policy.

He said the issue has broken the State’s trust that certain groups will spend taxpayers’ money transparently.