A former Junior Health Minister's renewing calls for more stringent regulation of the sector.

It is over concerns that large pharmaceutical companies may be funding staffing in our country's hospitals.

The report by the Sunday Business Post claims €17m was paid by the firms to healthcare bodies here last year - however, it is unclear what the money was used for.

Former Minister Roisin Shortall says our health system lacks transparency: "There's a very obvious conflict of interest there and given that in this country everyone is very conscious that pharmaceuticals are so expensive here, medicines are so expensive for people paying themselves, but also for the state's bill for drugs, it is absolutely huge.

"And as a percentage of the health spend we spend far more than most other countries."