Ms Laverne McGuinness:

I am not hiding behind anything. I am saying that in respect of public pay policy, we receive a copy of what is known as the consolidated pay scale setting out the scales. They do not specify, for example, the CEOs of particular disability organisations. They have particular grades. Our colleagues from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will be able to speak about it. We have tried to get an independent assessment of what is the correct rate of pay for individual organisations not specifically referred to on the consolidated pay scales. The indicators usually taken into account are budget, scope, scale, complexity and diversity of services. We have to seek the advice and authorisation of the Department of Health on what we pay. That is the public pay policy we must implement. We are obliged to implement public pay policy.