The retirement package for the former chief executive of CIE should have been made public, the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, said. She agreed with Fine Gael's public enterprise spokesman, Mr Jim Higgins, it was "ridiculous" that a newspaper could reveal the details of his retirement package and parliament could not be told.

She said she was not a party to the confidentiality agreement for Mr McDonnell. It was agreed with the transport company's board, and she was not required to be party to the confidentiality clause. The amount was decided in the presence of the full board.