Written Answers. - BTSB Severance Payments.
Mary Harney
Question:
96
Miss Harney
asked the
Minister for Health
if he will give details of the compensation and severance payments made to the former chief medical officer and former chief executive of the Blood Transfusion Service Board.
[18239/96]
Liz O'Donnell
Question:
115
Ms O'Donnell
asked the
Minister for Health
the total cost of severance payments and the value of the pension package paid to officials of the Blood Transfusion Service Board who resigned in relation to the hepatitis C controversy.
[18099/96]
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Question:
117
Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn
asked the
Minister for Health
the amount of each golden handshake paid to each executive at the Blood Transfusion Service Board following the hepatitis C revelations.
[18119/96]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 115 and 117 together.
On 5 April, 1995 following the publication of the report of the Expert Group on the Blood Transfusion Service Board, I announced a package of measures aimed at ensuring restoration of public confidence in the board. Among the measures announced were changes in the organisation and management of the BTSB. These included the assignment of Mr. Liam Dunbar, former chief executive officer of St. James's Hospital, and Professor Shaun McCann, Consultant Haematologist, St. James's Hospital, to work with the board of the BTSB in implementing the necessary improvements required in the workings of the BTSB.
My announcement followed the retirement on 4 April 1995 of Dr. T. Walsh, former chief medical consultant with the Blood Transfusion Service Board. The terms of the early retirement package for Dr. Walsh were agreed between the board of the BTSB and Dr. Walsh. Under the provisions of standard public service pension schemes, it is normal practice to add up to a maximum of ten years to actual service for superannuation purposes in the case of certain professional grades. This provision combined with the terms for voluntary early retirement enabled the board to reach a settlement with Dr. Walsh involving a lump sum of £86,872 and a pension of £29,018 per annum.
The urgent need to take steps such as management restructuring to restore public confidence in the BTSB as a means of ensuring continuity in blood supplies did not allow for any avoidable delay in vacating the post of chief medical consultant. Given the terms of Dr. Walsh's contract of employment, any alternative to voluntary early retirement would not have produced an outcome for many months, if not years.
Mr. T. Keyes, former chief executive officer of the BTSB was employed by the board in 1987 and was due to retire on 1 March 1994. In February 1994 when it became apparent that there was a possible link between the product human immunoglobulin — anti D and heptatis C he was requested to continue in office in order to help the board and he agreed to do so until 1 June 1995. As stated in the report of the expert group — paragraph 2.12 page 138 — he, as chief executive officer, was responsible for the group's management functions but not for its medical-scientific functions. Under the terms of his contract of employment and based on his years of service with the BTSB, Mr. Keyes was entitled to a lump sum of £28,000 and annual pension of £7,000, payable from the BTSB pension fund.
