The Taoiseach says the same public pay rules must and will apply to everyone in the health sector. It comes after it emerged that salaries at a quarter of Irish hospitals and health centres are in breach of the pay cap or are offering bonus and top-ups.

He also says no employee of the health service should be in breach of the public sector pay limit of €200,000 a year.

His comments come after it emerged that the Master of the National Maternity Hospital is paid €236,000 a year - plus an extra bonus of €45,000 from private funds.

Enda Kenny has told the Dáil that the rules are "very clear and very straight" in public pay policies issued by the government.

Meanwhile the the Chair of the Oireachtas Health Committee Jerry Buttimer told Lunchtime here on Newstalk that there is one single public service pay policy.

"This government and this Minister have made it quite clear that there is one uniformity of approach - that top ups are a clear breach of policy" he said.

"That any augmentation of payment - be it from a car park or a shop within a hospital - is wrong and can't be condoned" he added.

You can listen to the full interview via the player below:

Earlier, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin said there should be no such top ups.