Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There are two conflicting forces. There is a prima facieargument that they should be in the public domain because public money is involved. I understand that some of them will be released in next year's annual report.

There is a conflict which, I have to be honest, I have not even resolved myself . It is a conflict relating to whether severance payments, which are sometimes - often rightly - seen to be absolutely excessive and unacceptable, should be hidden from the public. If that happens, it is absolutely wrong. On the other hand, some of them certainly are subject to confidentiality agreements. Obviously a conflict arises and it is difficult to resolve. A person signs a confidentiality agreement with a public company and public money is involved. The person is entitled to individual privacy. Aside from that the Chairman is, quite rightly, asking whether the public is entitled to know the details. It is a difficult question to answer and I do not know the answer.