The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will meet this evening to decide whether to seek legal powers to force Frank Flannery to appear before them. The former Rehab CEO has refused to attend a hearing of the Committee to discuss the pay of its senior executives.

The Committee last week heard that the organisation which paid his salary - and that of his successor Angela Kerins - is 40% funded by the taxpayer.

Neither appeared at a hearing to which they were invited last Thursday.

Frank Flannery said he could not contribute to the issues being discussed, while Ms. Kerins was absent on medical grounds.

PAC members will now decide whether to begin legal procedures, forcing Mr. Flannery to attend a hearing in future.

The chairman of the PAC said last Friday the Committee would not give up on efforts to have the two answer more questions on the running of Rehab.

While the Health Minister has previously expressed "grave concerns" over any irregularities at Rehab, after it was revealed that Ms. Kerins signed off on €400,00 of payments for Mr. Flannery without consulting the board.

Minister James Reilly has also said the pair should make themselves available to the PAC.