The Mater Hospital has dismissed claims that the pension fund it manages for the Central Remedial Clinic doesn't exist.
The hospital says it "absolutely refutes" the claims from the CRC's former chief executive that the clinic pays the Mater to run a "phantom fund".
It says it manages the scheme on behalf of 181 workers at the CRC, under an arrangement made with the clinic in the mid 1970s - and remains liable for those workers' pension payments 'in perpetuity'.
The Mater's statement conflicts with that of Mr Kiely, who earlier told the Public ACcounts Committee that the pension liabilities were paid from *other* funds.
Last year the Mater received around 670,000 euro from the CRC to cover the costs of those pensions.
CRC accounts for the last eight years show it's paid the Mater almost five million euro to act as its agent for the pension fund.
