The Dáil Health Committee is to hold a meeting next week to discuss allegations that staff at two Dublin hospitals accepted gifts and holidays from a medical supplier.

Representatives from the Health Service Executive (HSE), St Vincent's University Hospital and the Beacon Hospital have been invited to respond to the claims which were made in a Prime Time programme.

Two staff at St Vincent's have been put off duty and one member of staff at the Beacon has been placed on leave pending investigations, into the allegations that the gifts were in exchange for commercially sensitive information.

A statement from the HSE this morning said neither hospital is a HSE facility, but St Vincent's is part-funded by the executive and it has taken action on a number of issues raised by the programme.

It confirmed that an investigation has been launched and no payments will be made to Eurosurgical "until further notice" by any HSE bodies.

The Health Minister Leo Varadkar has confirmed a garda fraud squad investigation is also being carried out.

Chief executive of the Irish Medical and Surgical Trade Association, Justin Carty, says the activities alleged in the programme are strictly prohibited.