Tánaiste Simon Harris Has No Unresolved Issues Amid Overpayments Controversy

Simon Harris’s office has outlined how he personally has no outstanding matters with the NSSO, as the broader questions about repayments drew scrutiny in the Dáil

The office of the Tánaiste, Wicklow TD Simon Harris has said that the Fine Gael leader has no outstanding issues with the National Shared Services Office after ministerial overpayments were brought to light this week. 

It's reported ten serving government ministers have not yet entered a repayment plan for salary overpayments but a spokesperson for Minister Harris has confirmed to East Coast FM news that he has no outstanding issues with the NSSO. 

It follow revelations that taxpayers’ money went to some individuals sparking a controversy over pension‑related overpayments affecting government ministers.

More than seven months on from when those erroneous payments were identified, some have yet to formalise a plan to repay the monies in question. 

Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty questioned Minister for Finance Jack Chambers at a Finance Committee meeting earlier this week. 

He stressed that the money in question belongs to the public, not the government or individual ministers, and said it was outrageous that senior members of government had been allowed to retain it for so long.

Errors identified by the NSSO relate to how pension deductions were calculated for some current and former ministers following salary decisions such as voluntary pay sacrifices.

The NNSO has contacted those affected to clarify what is owed and arrange repayments.