Mr. Tom Boland:

I want to correct myself in that there is a small degree of flexibility. Universities can, through what is known as a departures framework, appoint individuals at higher levels if they are what we might call high flyers. However, its use is very limited - we are speaking about a handful of people across the sector - and it is monitored closely by the HEA. The issue of flexibility has to be considered in the overall scheme of the public service but Government policy for the public service is not a subject I am qualified to discuss. However desirable it may be, I imagine it would be difficult to create this type of flexibility in one part of the public service without impacting on other parts. On a purely personal basis, I have no doubt that value could be found through this kind of flexibility but it might be difficult to achieve because of the environment in which it arises.