Lack of ministerial control is 'absolutely scandalous' - Tóibín

The lack of ministerial control has "inverted the democratic authority of the State", according to Deputy Peadar Tóibín.

Speaking on the news that both the Secretary General of the Dept of Health and the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly have refused a request by the Oireachtas Committee on Finance to give their account of the now-abandoned secondment of Dr Tony Holohan to Trinity College Dublin, Aontú Leader and Finance Committee member Peadar Tóibín TD has stated;.

" It is absolutely scandalous that the highest paid civil servant in the country has refused two requests, now, in this Dáil term to come before the committee and be accountable for his actions. It is also incredible that Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, who admits that he was blindsided by the actions of his Sec Gen, is providing no oversight or control over the actions of this civil servant. The lack of Ministerial control has inverted the democratic authority of the State. It shows deep weakness at the heart of this Government. Who is running the country?"

"Stephen Donnelly stated that he was not informed of the unique package that was provided to Tony Holohan by his Department. Surely its the Ministers responsibility to inform himself of what’s happening in his Department. This is another episode of insiders getting preferential largess from the state while citizens are suffering from a damaging cost of living crisis. Just like the Zappone Affair, the review of what happened was carried out by insiders also. I can't blame Stephen Donnelly for refusing to come before the Finance Committee, for there is no amount of managerial buzz words that will explain his lack of authority away".