Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 3, between lines 31 and 32, to insert the following:

"(9) No compensation upon leaving office shall be payable to the Director General or any other officer or employee unless the terms of the compensation are approved by a committee appointed by Dáil Éireann for the purpose.".

In light of significant public comment and disquiet regarding recent events, the amendment seeks to ensure there is a control on golden handshakes for senior staff by having the terms of compensation agreed by a committee of Dáil Éireann. We need to ensure there is no significant bumping up of payoffs and a committee specifically set up to deal with the matter would be a useful control. It is a significant matter. While the Minister of State may suggest the relevant Minister is accountable to the Committee of Public Accounts, we are not necessarily sure how payments are computed on the cessation of employment. In regard to the most recent matter concerning Rody Molloy, serious concerns were raised in terms of the payoff as to whether it was in keeping with guidelines. The amendment seeks to deal with concerns in that regard.