Professor Gerry Boyle:

I agree with what was said in that regard. A couple of difficulties arise and it is a question of trying to unravel from where the objection is emanating. It is certainly possible to build in an actuarial cost of pensions and identify a proper cost in respect of recruiting an adviser. There is no question that this can be done. If there are then non-Exchequer finances available either from farmer fees, the proceeds of agribusiness or whatever, I see no logical reason why staff could not be recruited. We live in hope. I am very positive with regard to the so-called new expenditure cap and when the detail relating to this is worked out, then recruitment may be possible.

There are probably other reasons for that which we are discussing and some of them relate to a legitimate discussion regarding the nature of the work we do. I refer, in particular, to scheme work and the legitimate question which arises as to whether this could be done by a non-public agency. That may partly explain the position which the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has adopted. The other reason relates to the significant issues that have arisen in the context of employment law with regard to contracts of indefinite duration and so forth.

I presume the committee is familiar with this also. People who are taken on on a contract basis can establish and have established employment rights. It is very difficult to restrict the employment contract satisfactorily. In other words, there are perceived risks in the recruitment of staff, which I can understand, and it is our job to try to work around them and try to explain where we are coming from.