Opposition TDs have said it is"scandalous" that Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and Secretary General of the Department of Health Robert Watt have declined an invitation to appear before the Finance Committee, which is examining the now-abandoned secondment of Dr Tony Holohan to Trinity College Dublin.
But a letter sent to the committee from Mr Donnelly's private secretary said:"Neither the minister nor his officials are in a position to attend the meeting". Committee member Peadar Tóibín of Aontú said it is"absolutely scandalous that the highest paid civil servant in the country has refused two requests in this Dáil term to come before the committee and be accountable for his actions".
Mr Cullinane said the now abandoned secondment"lacked transparency and raises serious questions about the reach of senior public servants on the one hand and the lack of authority of the Minister for Health on the other".
They just don't care and have plenty to hide it's a total disgrace you should be ashamed
Get rid of them
Yup! Irish politicians can do whatever they want and not have to answer for it! howirelandworks
MaireadMauraNi Par for the course with these extortionists. Think about it, what else are politicians and so-called 'Senior Civil Servants'? Can't be challenged, controlled nor held to account?And we are forced to pay their salaries, expenses, pensions? I've just thought about it. Thieving scum
Both just keep proving their worth , how lucky we are that Robert Watt, the only man for the job , just happens to double job as Jesus , the infallible one , could we not give him another raise and get Donnelly a bigger fence , to hide behind while where at it
Will Donnelly now have the tax payer build him a taller fence and we pay watt’s more money
MichealMartinTD where is the accountability for your minister that is disgraceful
So, a serving minister & lead civil servant, within a gov dept refusing to be held accountable or answer questions & they actually think this is ok 😱😱😡😡
Says a lot about his character or lack there of 👇
criminal
Tina30768824 The cost of living is too high, Ireland will boil over soon.
A man who when he was Taoiseach admitted in the Dail to leaking a confidential document , the rot starts from the top as he could be Taoiseach again.
Wyatt is a disgrace we are paying our taxes for this arrogance and incompetence he is meant to be the rising star of public service obviously very good people below him not aloud to give their input he should have never got the job
The arrogance of them. It appears Leo isn't the only one above reproach.
Because they don't care to explain why should they, it's not kn their interest
Lessons learned🤢🤮. They make the mafia look like school kids.
They should be sacked, they answer to the people!
Did he really blocked the public footpath in Wicklow being constructed, putting walking families at huge risk of being run over? I asked him, but he blocked me?
countryboy606 In a normal first world country, they wouldn’t be “invited”, they’d be compelled. In the event they didn’t, leadership with any kind of credibility or moral authority would ensure they appeared. This is why Ireland is a joke. These cronies do as they please - it’s accepted. FFG
Banana Republic FFFG
A reckoning is coming in this country!
The state of this country.
Oh good, I know if I'm ever called up in court I can just decline it like these crooks.
They should be compelled to attend the committee & not hide. However, this is what can happen when a coalition of bare convenience, ie to keep FG & FF in , Shinners out & the rest down, starts to crack.
Sack them both. If this happened in private company you'd be sacked. Part and parcel of those jobs is to answer for your actions or inactions.
fiannafailparty Disgraceful but sadly not surprising - is this FFG accountability an enquiry just kicks the can down the road & absolutely no respect for the people they represent + they will both get their min 10% salary increase in July - anyone else sick of this FFG Gov ?
Fkn joke that is... insult to injury ffs. This public servant can spend that kind of public money without scrutiny and then refuse to answer questions as to wtf was going on🤬😡🤬😡🤬😡
Scandalous is one word. Can the government explain how a public servant is allowed to spend at least €20 million euro of public money, without any scrutiny of the justification, purpose & transparency in the distribution of such expenditure? What procurement rules are in place?
Everything that has happened since the foundation of the State with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael ... seems to have a scandal or corruption attached to it ....
The CAB should be interviewing them!
People won't forget.. 🤬🤬🤬🤬
Old news, move on.
Opposition are only looking for soundbytes.
No accountability in this country
Sure when you think your above everyone else, what do you expect
They don't need to attend, they know what happened
this government has nothing but contempt for the people that they allege to represent. Absolutely no accountability or responsibility. Dying people being turned away from hospitals. Both should resign in shame. An utter disgrace.
ROUND AND ROUND OF NOTTHING , IRELAND HAS TO VOID IT SELF , SO INTRECHED IS OLD FASHION COLLECTIVE IDEALSIM OF ROUTET NO CHOICE .
Scandal after Scandal Donnelly & Watt Both refusing to answer questions AGAIN Disrespecting the department Disrespecting the People of Ireland Donnelly was elected to to a job So was Watt NO ACCOUNTABILITY NO ANSWERS So why are they still in them jobs? M Martin do your job
An invitation!? This is the extent of what passes for accountability in Irish politics. Leako Varadker, Storey funeral Covid contravention, Bacik Merriongate etc ad nauseum .. now a turncoat dilettante and a bloody civil servant decide they’re not actually bothered.. shitshow
Watt should resign.
Never any accountability in this corrupt little country
Ah....so that's why Robbie was calling me earlier. Sometimes in life you learn from the best iveReadMyStatement
This government answers to no one. Making and breaking rules the whole time. Leo is the biggest example. A file sent to the DPP and he refuses to step aside
It is scandalous