Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not know any Secretary General in a Department who waits six months for their lump sum. I have checked it out and unless I am misreading it that has not happened in the Department of Health in recent times and certainly not in most other Departments. It is extraordinary that, with a provision of €52 million, the Department cannot pay out lump sums which are due to people. I urge the Minister to look at that situation and if his Department is short of money he might keep it from those on the higher pay scales and first give the lump sum to those on the lower pay scales.

I will now turn to the matter of pensions. I understand there is difficulty in assessing how many people are going to retire.

I know it is probably a bigger issue, but will the Minister consider including in all employment contracts a longer period of notice than the statutory notice period for people who wish to retire early? I am not proposing a change in contract law but asking whether it is possible to facilitate additional notice or even a requirement that people indicate they are considering retirement. From time to time, the health service experiences large, rapid outflows of staff, frequently as a result of the conditions and pressures they face. The lack of resources and so on sometimes causes staff to throw in the towel. The departure, over a short period, of staff with a wealth of experience has impacted on the ability of the health service to deliver and resulted in a serious loss of corporate memory, medical knowledge and experience.