The Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Mary Harney, has said she is sorry to lose a person of the calibre of Pat McLoughlin, who has resigned as deputy head of the Health Service Executive.
Ms Harney said it would be improper to discuss his departure as it was based on Mr McLoughlin's personal circumstances.
She would not comment on a reported row between Mr McLoughlin and the Department of Finance over his pension entitlements but she said she was satisfied the structures were in place for strong management of the HSE.
On the PPARS controversy the Tánaiste said she did not know if money paid for consultancy work was to a shelf company abroad. She said this was a matter for the HSE.
The Tánaiste has also rejected criticism that A&E services had deteriorated.
Meanwhile, the head of the HSE, Professor Brendan Drumm, has said he has seen the Comptroller and Auditor General report in the PPARS controversy so that the HSE can comment on any factual inaccuracies.
As a result Prof Drumm said he could not discuss the matter until the report was published.
