Mr. Tony O'Brien:

I suspect that in some instances there have been areas of entrepreneurial freedom rather than making the case for an improvement in what was perceived to be an inadequate level of pay. That was either because these bodies did not recognise a necessity to do so or felt it would not be successful. They have gone around the scrum, so to speak, and done something on the basis that it is easier to be forgiven than get permission. That appears to be what happened in some instances. That was foolish and it would have been far better to make the case, which may or may not have been successful. Nevertheless, the bodies would not have found themselves in this clearly very damaging position for each of the institutions and the individuals involved.