Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Severance Arrangements.

Mary Harney

Ceist:

293 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if he will give details of any financial settlements or extraordinary severance arrangements entered into with civil servants in his Department or with public servants in State agencies under the aegis of his Department. [15879/96]

Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht (Mr. M. Higgins)

It is assumed that the financial settlements referred to by the Deputy are in the context of severance and no such arrangements have been entered into by my Department since its establishment in January 1993.

In relation to the non-commercial State agencies and bodies under the aegis of my Department, the position regarding arrangements made in the same period is that one officer got the benefit of a voluntary early retirement package approved by the Department of Finance. Two other officers were paid amounts which totalled £27,000 on leaving office.

With regard to RTE — the only commercial State agency under the aegis of my Department — the Authority is responsible for the remuneration and allowances of its officers and servants. My consent is required in relation to any alteration to the remuneration or the terms and conditions of the Director General. Since the establishment of my Department, my consent has not been sought for any unusual or extraordinary settlements with regard to that post.