Retirement party for third level chief cost taxpayer €13k

THE DEPARTMENT of Education was sharply criticised yesterday by TDs for spending €13,000 on a retirement party.

An ice sculpture was among the expenses paid by the taxpayer at the party for former president of Cork Institute of Technology, Dr Brendan Murphy. The Dáil Public Accounts Committee heard ‘tables, frames, drapes, carpets and the audio visual set-up’ cost €5,500.

Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills, Seán Ó Foghlú, was pressed on the issue yesterday by Fianna Fáil’s Marc MacSharry. He asked if the expense was too much for the taxpayer to expect, and if the department had guidelines for retirement parties.

Mr Ó Foghlú said: ‘It wouldn’t be the norm for departments or agencies to have retirement parties for staff.

‘However, there would be a recognition when a senior leader of an organisation would be leaving after a number of years, it would be appropriate to celebrate. It is not something we have a guideline on.’

A detailed breakdown of the costs for the retirement party was revealed in Cork’s Evening Echo newspaper this month.

Mr Ó Foghlú said people in the department would usually make a ‘minor contribution’ towards the cost of a party for staff members.

He indicated he did know the details of the costs of the retirement party, and said that he was invited to the dinner and he did attend.

Mr MacSharry said he understands that many politicians attended the party, but he ‘can hardly hold the guests responsible for the costs’.