Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy is wrong in the contention he makes. The arrangements were that the FÁS board would discuss the matter with the outgoing CEO at that time, refer it to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and obtain the approval of the Department of Finance. That was the arrangement that was made and followed in this case. There was no other arrangement required in that respect.

Second, as I have already said, severance arrangements were approved by the Department under the provisions of the Labour Services Act 1987, which cover the remuneration and superannuation terms. We are talking here about moving the situation on and a change at the top of the organisation. The issues that arose and to which the Deputy is referring, concern the fact that had the outgoing chief executive decided to stay and the FÁS board decided subsequently to terminate the contract-----

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