Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I accept that the issue of the fee was a curveball and that Mr. Kiely misrepresented the position. However, as the national director of human resources, Mr. O'Brien would or should have been aware of the manner in which pension contributions were made by section 38 organisations. Mr. O'Brien should certainly have been aware that if there was any mention of a fee, it would not be in line with standard procedures. In fact, it would fall far outside them. Furthermore, Mr. O'Brien should have been in a position to clarify all of that.