Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

I am coming to that. The guidelines state very specifically that unless the person concerned has had his or her contract terminated, Government approval is required for an enhanced package. It seems that the Minister for Finance took it upon himself to give approval to the package without bringing it to Government. Is the Taoiseach aware of the fact the Minister for Finance acted ultra vires in this matter? At this stage, having had an opportunity to consider all of the issues surrounding this, does he accept at this point that the Minister for Finance did act ultra vires, that a Government decision was required for the enhanced severance package of €1.2 million that was granted to Mr. Molloy, that the package was outside of the law and that the Taoiseach now retrospectively needs to obtain approval for that package?

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