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09/04/2009
Conservatives Claim Britain Overpaid Irish Health Service
Members of the British Conservative Party has claimed £200 million in NHS funds has been wrongly directed to the Irish health service.
The money is paid annually by the British Government as part of a long-standing arrangement to fund treatment for around 50,000 Irish pensioners who paid national insurance in the UK.
But now the Conservatives are claiming the figure is €200 million per year too much and have called the system "shambolic".
Minister for Mary Harney raised the issue in December when giving evidence to the Dáil.
She said the British government "reckoned they had paid us €150 million more than they should have" in 2007, and wanted their money back.
Conservative Party Health Spokesman Andrew Lansley said he suspected the overpayments could be up to €750m over the past five years, from a total bill of €2bn.
He demanded a parliamentary inquiry, insisting ministers were trying to hide the problem.
The British Department of Health has insisted the governments are in talks over the issue.
Mr Lansley said: "NHS funds are always precious and it's completely unacceptable for the Government to be carelessly diverting £180 million a year out of our NHS."
(DW/BMcC)
The money is paid annually by the British Government as part of a long-standing arrangement to fund treatment for around 50,000 Irish pensioners who paid national insurance in the UK.
But now the Conservatives are claiming the figure is €200 million per year too much and have called the system "shambolic".
Minister for Mary Harney raised the issue in December when giving evidence to the Dáil.
She said the British government "reckoned they had paid us €150 million more than they should have" in 2007, and wanted their money back.
Conservative Party Health Spokesman Andrew Lansley said he suspected the overpayments could be up to €750m over the past five years, from a total bill of €2bn.
He demanded a parliamentary inquiry, insisting ministers were trying to hide the problem.
The British Department of Health has insisted the governments are in talks over the issue.
Mr Lansley said: "NHS funds are always precious and it's completely unacceptable for the Government to be carelessly diverting £180 million a year out of our NHS."
(DW/BMcC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Showers today, occasional north and west of Lough Neagh, but only a few isolated light outbreaks expected for Belfast and county Down where the best of the winter sunshine is expected. West to northwest winds brisk around the coasts. Maximum temperature 10 °C.Tonight:Showers focused across northern areas of the Province, with most in the south staying dry, with a frost developing for many here. Northwest winds fresh around the coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
