John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Finally, I'm going to ask you, all in the one question, in relation to your own pension entitlement, leaving the public service.

When you retired in 2010, your pension was topped up in order for you to be able to pay ... be paid the maximum on retirement. I want you to state whether that's correct or not. And, secondly, is it common practice for retiring civil servants, teachers, nurses, guards, to have their pensions topped up in such a manner? Why was this payment sanctioned? Who sanctioned it? And do you believe that the taxpayer has got value for money for that payment?