Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Catherine Murphy said much of what I wanted to say. There is a clear need for the committee to examine this matter because of the likely questions and lines of questioning we will have in subsequent years on decisions of this nature. Work in this area that does not infringe on the policy issues around pay that the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach will examine is needed. Process and the procedure by which this was adopted is probably key to the work of our committee on this. I echo what other members said. The idea of Members across the House being focused on this issue to hold to account those at a senior level in the permanent government is important and something we should pursue.