Coveney denies ‘cock-up’ in severance package legislation delay

Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has denied there was a "cock-up" in the Government's failure to implement legislation to end the practice of severance packages for retiring or resigning ministers.

Mr Coveney said there had been no expectation that a minister would stand down.

He was speaking in advance of the statement expected this afternoon by former minister Alan Shatter who is entitled to a €70,000 severance package.

Legislation to ban such payments had been passed but Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin had not signed the statutory instrument to give effect to the legislation, before Mr Shatter resigned.

Mr Coveney told reporters “we made a decision as a Government three years ago to do away with the severance payment for ministers and Alan was part of that agreement”.

The Minister said “I absolutely expect he will follow through on that agreement”, whether the legislation was finalised or not “and I think he will make that clear. I think that’s what people have expected.”

Mr Coveney said “people have been keen to read something into the legislation not being finalised” but he said there was nothing to that.

“I don’t think it was a cock-up. There was no expectation that a Minister would resign.”

The Minister was speaking at the opening day of the World Sheep Shearing and Wool Handling Championships in Gorey, last held in Ireland six years ago.

Mr Coveney said 28 countries and 300 competitors were involved in the championships with 6,000 sheep to be sheared over the four days of competition.

He described the championships as a global event and would next take place in 2017 in New Zealand.