The Minister for Health has said that there will be cutbacks in the public health service next year.
Mary Harney said the Minister for Finance has made clear that the Government will be looking for €3bn in cuts from public expenditure.
It is expected there will be an impact on the public health service.
The Minister was speaking in the context of what she called the major challenge facing the new Health Service Executive Chief Executive Cathal Magee.
Minister Harney also pointed to the ongoing recruitment moratorium in the health service and the need to reduce the numbers working in the sector as challenges facing the new HSE boss.
However, Ms Harney said Mr Magee comes with enormous experience of management in both the public and private sectors, has worked in the health service before, is more than aware of the challenges and has her full confidence.
Asked about the larger-than-planned salary that is to be paid to the Mr Magee, Ms Harney said his salary is substantially reduced from what he had been earning.
She acknowledged that it is still a big salary, but added that he would be managing a €15bn budget and is going to receive the same salary as Prof Brendan Drumm was getting on his exit, without the performance-related bonuses.
Ms Harney added that the CEOs of health systems around the world are paid substantially more than in Ireland.
