Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire chuig an choiste leis an Estimate seo a phlé. I wish to begin by asking the Minister about the Estimates in terms of the pensions and lump sums. He may be aware that it is now no longer permitted for his Department to publish details of the pensions that former Ministers are receiving. Does he believe that this is something that needs to be rectified in the legislation? I am conscious that he also oversees the freedom of information legislation. Surely, when money is paid out of the public purse to people in positions such as those which the Minister now occupies himself, the public has a right to know about the pension provision? Perhaps the Minister can explain to us what has changed, because this information was previously always readily available.