McDonald 'hopeful' that Rehab salaries can be made public

A member of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee has said the salaries of senior managers at Rehab could be published later this evening.

The committee is taking legal advice about whether it can publish the salaries, which Rehab gave the HSE on a confidential basis.

The HSE says it has no option but to hand over the salaries to the committee, which is now considering making them public.

Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald says members have not been given the figures yet, but could get them in a few hours.

Minister Joan Burton says Rehab executives have a "responsibility" to publish their executives’ salaries.

The Public Accounts Committee has requested legal advice on whether it can publish the figures - after the group’s CEO yesterday defended her €240,000 pay packet.

The Social Protection Minister says Rehab plays a vital role for people with disabilities in Ireland, but she also says the charity’s bosses have a responsibility to account for public money.