The former head of the Central Remedial Clinic has said the HSE was aware of top-payments it was paying to its senior staff back in 2009 and has claimed that the Clinic had been 'upfront' with the HSE about this matter.

Mr Paul Kiely told the Dail Public Accounts Committee today that Health Minister James Reilly had said the matter of top-up payments first came to light in May 2012 following a HIQA report which revealed substantial top-up payments at Tallaght Hospital.

He added that the CRC, back in 2009, had responded to a letter from the HSE with information about top-ups it was paying.

Mr Kiely queried whether was CRC the only one to respond in 2009 'correctly, honestly and upfront' on salaries that were paid and how they were paid within the organisation.

Paul Kiely received around €240,000 in salary, including top-ups which came from fundraising activities, while he was CEO.

He told the Committee his pension was based on his full €240,000 salary, including top-ups. It was revealed that his annual pension will be  around half this amount.

Senator Shane Ross told the Committee that fundings from lotteries and private fundraising was going towards paying the pensions of Mr Kiley and other senior staff at the CRC.

Senator Ross queried whether there was a conflict of interest from Mr Kiely having been secretary and a director of both the CRC and its fundraising arm, the Friends and Supporters.

Representatives of the CRC told told the Committee it was contractually bound to pay salaries that were in excess of official HSE levels.

The Chairman of the PAC John McGuinness accused Brian Conlan, who this week resigned as CRC Chief Executive, of playing games with the PAC. Mr Conlan is not appearing before the PAC hearing.

Mr Conlan, who took up this post with the CRC in July, has repaid unauthorised salary top-ups made to him.

CRC Chairman Jim Nugent said the CRC had no power to compel Mr Conlan to appear before the PAC.