Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason he did not rescind the recent special severance gratuity payment agreed by the Top Level Appointments Committee to the former Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach, in view of the fact that this payment, which is clearly defined in section 7 of the Superannuation and Pensions Act 1963 as being as a special severance gratuity, could only have been awarded to this person on the instruction, if he so thinks proper by him. [24888/11]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the former Secretary General to the Department of the Taoiseach was facilitated by him to retire with a full pension at 57 years with no actuarial reduction despite section 6 of the Superannuation and Pensions Act 1963 stating that a notional period shall be added to the established service of a civil servant if he in his discretion so directs. [24889/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 198 together.

Prior to the appointment of the former Secretary General to the post of Secretary General to the Government in January 2000, the Government decided that the terms applicable to Secretaries General appointed under the Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) process would apply in his case. At the end of his term in December 2010, the then Government confirmed the application of those TLAC exit terms on his retirement but deferred his retirement until 6 July 2011 at the latest. It was decided by the Government in June 2011 that his retirement be further deferred to 31 July 2011. In these circumstances the payment of the former Secretary General's superannuation and severance benefits was deferred until he ceased to hold office and his benefits were then paid in accordance with the Government decisions made on his appointment and on 7 December 2010.