Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation

I refer to the Department of Finance Circular 17/2008 (E157/19/2000), dated 29/07/2008, which altered from 08/07/2008 the terms previously sanctioned in Circular 35/2007 (02/11/2007) concerning retirement lump sums. The subject matter of this FOI Request is the process that involved civil servants leading up to the issue of Circular 17/2008. I request the following records: (1) All records concerning the “process” above to include the formulation of any initial and subsequent proposal, submissions to and from members of government, advice to government, internal departmental records, consultation processes, inter government department communications, external communications, legal advice and government decisions. Records to include formal and informal written communications, emails, file notes (handwritten or otherwise), records of telephone conversations, minutes of meetings and such records held on any medium. The records being requested are likely to have been created between 02/11/2007 and 29/07/2008. Inter alia, records to include those specifically identified at (2) and (3) below. (2) Records indicating when the Secretary General, Department of Finance, or one of his senior officials, first become aware of any consideration being given by the government to not implement the pending phases of the pay increases as previously approved by the government on foot of Report No. 42 of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Service. (3) Records indicating when the Department of Finance Officials may have informed (formally or informally) other government agencies in