Mr. Martin Fraser:

I certainly did not do that, in any event. The rationale, which has been outlined and is explained in the note, was that if we were to run an open competition based on the existing salary for a Secretary General, we were likely to attract serving assistant secretaries in the Civil Service or people at that level, or even lower in the private sector. Whether fortunately or unfortunately, the remuneration for these types of jobs in the private sector is higher. The decision was made to increase the package, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform decided he was happy to do that but he did not want anything above €300,000. That was the rationale for coming in with a figure below €300,000.