Mr. Martin Fraser:

I was trying to clarify that the circular does not have rule of law powers but of course one should follow circulars. First, it is the responsibility of the senior management of the Department to abide by the rules around secondment. As I said to Deputy Tóibín, secondments are not bad and trying to share experience and develop people and organisations is good. Ultimately, sometimes one needs sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. All organisations are audited as well. These things are looked at in a number of ways. The essence of a secondment is that a person moves organisation on the same terms. While it is good for the person concerned, it also means there is a sense he or she can come back to where he or she came from. It is an opportunity to learn and develop rather than to leave the organisation. That is the general reason for secondments.