Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is fair to say that some of the pay-offs, severance payments and redundancy money transacted under cover have been rather obscene. That is something we could not countenance or tolerate for long. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform oversees the code of practice for State bodies. I gather that a new provision is coming along to the effect that payments of this sort will not be the subject of confidential agreements. I am of the view that they should not be subject to such agreements. I am against the idea that a person can work for a State body and be paid off with vast amounts of money that would make a banker blush. I am not saying it has happened recently but it has happened in the past. The idea is completely indefensible.