Fleming stands by PAC walk out

Laois Offaly TD Sean Fleming is standing over his decision to walk out of a Public Accounts Committee meeting with Health Officials last night.

The Fianna Fail Deputy said it was disgraceful that the representatives refused to discuss policy matters.

He said he wanted to talk about budgetary figures and also wished to raise expected savings in the drug payment scheme.

Deputy Flemming accused the Department of Health Secretary General and HSE CEO Ambrose McLoughlin of being 'unfit for office'.

This morning Deputy Flemming told Midlands Radio he has no regrets: "What happened at the beginning of the Public Accounts Committee meeting, Ambrose McLoughlin came in and said he wasn't going to discuss the financial situation of the HSE for 2012.

"That's unacceptable, I made that very clear and told him it was a disgrace and that he should resign.

"I walked out in protest and think I shook the system up a little bit. He did become more forthcoming with other members of the committee but it needed to be said."