There are no plans to recoup unauthorised top-up payments made to current HSE chief Tony O'Brien when he was in his previous post with the National Cancer Screeening Service, junior Health Minister Kathleen Lynch has conformed.

Minister Lynch told the Dail that the Department of Health had reviewed the circumstances of the case of the Director General of the HSE and it was not proposed that recoupment of the unsanctioned allowances be sought.

She said Mr O'Brien received an allowance of approximately €26,000 per annum between 2006 and 2012. "This allowance was granted by the HSE to the Director General when he was chief executive of the National Cancer Screening Service in recognition of very significant additional responsibilities which he took on as project director for the National Programme for Radiation Oncology from 1 February 2006."

Minister Lynch said this arrangement was put in place without the approval of the Departments of Health or Finance.

Responding to questions from Fianna Fail Health Spokesman Billy Kelleher, she said the approved salary rate for Mr O'Brien's current job as post of Director General of the HSE was now €185,350.

"This rate is at a much lower level than the rate at which the chief executive officers of the HSE were paid in the period 2005 to 2012. The salary of the last chief executive officer of the HSE was €322,113 per annum plus additional benefits."

Minister Lynch said due process would have to be followed in the examination of top-ups to senior staff in voluntary health agencies.

"Where the HSE is satisfied that there are legitimate reasons for continuation of the allowance it may decide to apply to the Department of Health for sanction. Each such case will be determined on its merits and my Department will liaise, as appropriate, with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform."

She said she was confident that the HSE would take whatever action was necessary to achieve full compliance with Government pay policy from the agencies concerned and that any governance deficits identified are comprehensively rectified immediately.

Senior figures from the Central Remedical Clinic are appearing before the Dail Public Accounts Committee today to face questioning about top-ups to senior staff in the organisation.