Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The last few comments by the Minister of State give us the essence of this matter. I agree that in many cases chief executives and directors of finance are showing that discretion around the country. It is not always the case, however. In my own county we have a chief executive who is a former head of finance and our head of finance works closely in that regard as well. That works well but it is not the experience nationwide, however. This process needs to be established on a formal footing. That is because, outside of the greater Dublin area which is experiencing growth and doing well, there is whole different area that needs to be examined. Putting this process on a statutory footing would focus the mind regarding the severe pressures that some people are under.