John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

No, it was not. The Department's briefing, dated July 2012, centred around, for example, remuneration issues. It describes a request, "Approval sought for an appointment", and stated, "Proposed salary was almost 40% more than [the] equivalent" in other banks. For an interim head of internal audit, they sought approval, but "Appointment did not proceed". For an internal head of HR, "Appointment did not proceed". There was legal advice "on 60% time" at a rate beyond what was the norm. All of this was being discussed.

It appears that the Department was battling with IBRC over the direction it was taking. It appears that it was taking ownership and that it did not want the Department putting its nose into its business. It seems that the Department's strong advice to people in attending meetings stopped at that because not much was achieved.