Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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I am sorry but that reply is not acceptable. It cannot be the case that all these disparate agencies came to the same conclusion. It was my feeling at the time, although not all of the correspondence were shared with us, and it is my clear understanding now, with the benefit of hindsight, that an instruction was issued, or advice. When the grant was cut, I presume the Department was inundated with calls from section 39 agencies stating they were cut to the bone and asking what they would have to cut. Is it really Ms Cody's position that the answer every time was that each agency just had to decide for itself, with the result that the vast majority managed to come to the same conclusion with regard to cutting staff pay? It strikes me that it was an indication or suggestion, or perhaps even an instruction.