SENIOR HEALTH Service Executive figures believe there may have been up to 21 international trips undertaken over recent years under the auspices of a partnership body in the health sector.
The HSE has recently commissioned an internal audit of the Health Service Partnership Forum, a body which involved union and management representatives.
The forum, which was established in 1999 under a social partnership agreement, aims to promote a partnership approach to change and problem-solving in the health service.
It has received about €20 million in State funding in recent years.
Nearly €1 million was paid by the forum into the bank account, controlled by senior officials and a leading figure in the trade union Siptu, which is at the centre of the various inquires under way into the Skill training fund.
The HSE has contended that money paid into this account, known as the Siptu National Health and Local Authority Levy Fund, was used to finance some of the 31 foreign visits by trade union leaders and public officials associated with the Skill programme.
Senior HSE figures last night said they believed that a further 21 foreign trips – in addition to the 31 visits associated with the Skill programme – may have been undertaken as part of partnership initiatives.
However, some union sources suggested that the 21 foreign trips associated with the partnership programme could be the same as those counted under the Skill programme.
The forum will meet in emergency session today to consider moves by the HSE to close down its independent banking facility and incorporate these arrangements into those of the health authority.
Separately, it has emerged that the HSE is to advertise for a new senior operations manager for the organisation.
Staff in the HSE were told yesterday that its board had given approval for the appointment of a new chief operations officer.
Sanction for the appointment has been provided by Minister for Health Mary Harney and Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan.
The HSE declined to comment last night on the salary on offer for the post or on whether the appointment would represent an additional position on the senior management team.
