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

I would encourage them to do so. The audit does not specify examples. I should emphasise that in one of its key findings on remuneration rates it refers to instances where "senior management salary rates differed" and to agencies. The fact that the report refers to instances and agencies in the plural suggests that more than one agency reported this particular experience. I am inclined, on balance, to take the audit finding as it reads. I have no reason to suppose that the finding is inaccurate and I suspect Dr. McLoughlin has no reason to suppose that either. The report very clearly signals that there were verbal arrangements, clearance and a bit of the nod-and-wink, perhaps, regarding the payments of these additional salaries.