Update 2pm: The director general of the HSE has revealed it has a tax clearance cert for the charity Console.

Tony O’Brien is facing a grilling at the Public Accounts about spending at the charity and why an audit took so long.

He says HSE funding was resulting in services being provided and that it was money from other sources that question marks were raised on.

Longford Westmeath TD Peter Burke was shocked when Mr O’Brien revealed that Console had a tax clearance cert from Revenue.

Earlier The Director General of the HSE is denying the executive sat back and ignored governance in the suicide charity Console because they were getting value for money.

Tony O’Brien has been questioned at the Public Accounts Committee about financial issues at the charity and why an audit took so long.

He has insisted the HSE is not to blame for what went on at Console, adding they believe they actually underpaid for the services provided.

Asked by deputy Catherine Connolly if that was why the HSE took so long to act, Mr O’Brien insisted no: “When this came to the national director of mental health, her concern was to ensure that this audit report, and her ability to act on it was not in any way compromised and she had to follow appropriate procedure.

“So there is absolutely no foundation to suggest that we were sitting back and saying ‘oh we are getting great value for money we will let Console to continue.

“There is not one single shred of evidence to support that contention.”