Mr. Brendan McDonagh:

If they were working in the finance function, they have probably never dealt with the assets, so it is less important, but if they are dealing with the assets, that is different. We have to strike a balance. Ultimately, the taxpayer is paying this money. The gardening leave originally came up at the public accounts committee in, I think, 2012 or 2013. The Cathaoirleach's leader Deputy McDonald raised the issue. At that stage the PAC insisted there be gardening leave for people who were leaving NAMA and that is why the clauses were put into people's contracts. It was three months for the lower-grade, or rather the lower-level people, and six months for the more senior people. That was a recommendation from the PAC that the NTMA adopted.