Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 21 September 2016

Public Accounts Committee

Special Report No. 91 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Management of Severance Payments in Public Sector Bodies

1:30 pm

Photo of Josepha MadiganJosepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is me told. I have only one observation or question. I am not sure if it should be directed to Mr. McCarthy or Mr. Watt. I thank them for their helpful presentations.

When we look at anything like this, we have to learn from past mistakes. Although there was general compliance with the Department guidelines, obviously there was a notable exception when we look at the chief executives of some State bodies. Even if we had more stringent guidelines as the report has recommended, I believe the witness referred to retrospective sanction which is like retention planning permission or something. I always like to look at prevention rather than the cure, which goes without saying.

My question is on policing or enforcement. We can have more stringent guidelines, which we want people to adhere to, but how do we enforce and police that? Does it require some kind of review process? Is that in the scheme or the code of practice?

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