Action taken to stop hospital consultant ‘nixers’ immediately – Tánaiste

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Published: Thu 18 Jun 2026, 4:59 PM

Last updated: Thu 18 Jun 2026, 5:23 PM

By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

Measures are being taken to immediately stop the practice of “nixers” by hospital consultants, the Tánaiste has said.

Simon Harris was pressed on the issue during Leaders’ Questions on Thursday by Social Democrat TD Cian O’Callaghan.

O’Callaghan raised the situation where consultants on public-only contracts receive payments for delivering babies while covering for their private colleagues in the Rotunda.

He said he told the Taoiseach on Tuesday this is also happening at Cork University Maternity Hospital, and said The Irish Independent reported “a long-standing professional fee arrangement had been in place among consultants” in the hospital.

He quoted the HSE as saying this is a “private professional arrangement between some consultants”, but said: “While it’s no doubt true that hospital management plays no part in administering the payments, they organise the rosters that facilitate this practice.”

Measures are now being taken to ensure that this practice ceases with immediate effectSimon Harris

Harris said: “The idea of anybody being given a gift, or paid to do a nixer effectively, is not in line with the contract, it’s not an approved HSE arrangement, it’s not something the Department of Health, the Minister of Health, the HSE, or the Government would condone.

“Measures are now being taken to ensure that this practice ceases with immediate effect.

“My understanding is that the HSE chief executive is currently engaging with all of the regional health areas and the regional clinical directors in relation to this practice.”

Harris also said that as Minister for Finance, he wanted to stress that “any income, direct or indirect, gained from employment is taxable, and Revenue have standard audit compliance procedures, which they operate across all sectors”.

He added: “Whether it’s payment the traditional way or a gift or a nixer, please be aware of the taxable obligations on any income derived through that too.”