Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy is talking about the normal practice of any office in discussing the pros and cons of issues as they are debated. However, the issue emerged that it was in the interests of the organisation that it be moved on and that it would be decided under the terms of the Labour Services Act. The point I was making about the Department of Finance guidelines was that if the contract had been terminated the enhanced severance arrangements, in line with those guidelines, would have been applicable in this case.

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