THE Minister for Energy, Mr Lowry, and the Government may be asked to make a decision on Dr Eddie O'Connor's future as managing director of Bord na Mona as soon as next week.

Dr O'Connor said yesterday that the board may refer its findings on his controversial pay arrangements to the Minister and may make "recommendations to him about my position".

Dr O'Connor explained that as a result he sought extra time to prepare his answers to a number of key questions on his package put to him by chairman, Mr Pat Dineen, last Friday.

The board had been due to hear Dr O'Connor's answers at a special meeting yesterday, but decided instead to give him a further week and will now meet next Monday. It will be the sixth meeting on the issue in 10 weeks.

Dr O'Connor acknowledged his career and reputation were now on the line. He said last night that had sought the extra time because, depending on the evidence before the board, it may choose to disclose information to the Minister or even make recommendations to him about my posit ion as managing director".

The chairman of Bord na Mona, Mr Pat Dineen, said in a statement Dr O'Connor had requested a further week to enable him to obtain legal advice and "to prepare his responses to specific questions posed to him. . in relation to the reconciliation of his remuneration, expenses and benefits with the terms of his employment by the Government as set out in his letter of appointment and in Government directives received from time to time".

Dr O'Connor is also to prepare his response to the Price Waterhouse report into his pay arrangements.

Speaking after the meeting, Dr O'Connor repeated his earlier comment that he had done nothing wrong and would not be stepping down.

Dr O'Connor's total package, including business expenses, over the nine years as managing director came to £1.9 million, according to Price Waterhouse. However, Dr O'Connor argues strongly that this figure includes the cost of running his office, as well as pension provision of over £600,000 and this exaggerates the value of the package.

Dr O'Connor repeated yesterday his assertion that he has earned only £700,000 over the last nine years. He is understood to be arguing strongly that he had a valid contract with the board and the former chairman and was thus not breaching his contract.

Dr O'Connor added, in a statement last night, that he shared the concerns of Mr Dineen over the impact the affair was having on the company. He said. "I do not take lightly any steps that may prolong the current scenario, but people must accept that I have a responsibility to my wife, my two young children and to myself."

He said that he was anxious to see matters resolved but "will not, however, fall prey to any timetable that would limit my rights".

Dr O'Connor's statement prompted a second statement from Mr Dineen in which he "sought to correct the impression that the board of Bord na Mona was responsible in any way for the delay in resolving the issue of Dr O'Connor's remuneration package".

The board acceded to Dr O'Connor's request "in the interest of ensuring fair procedures".

Dr O'Connor claimed that he would need at least a week to reply to the questions put to him with the level of detail required.

Dr O'Connor claimed in his statement that he had "to his surprise" received a letter from Mr Dineen last Friday "raising a number of legal issues he wanted me to address at today's meeting of the board".

He added that it was clear that his career and reputation was very much on the line as far as Mr Dineen was concerned.

"Given his position and given the pivotal role he is giving himself and the board in determining my future, it seemed to me and my legal advisers, wholly inappropriate to expect me to be in a position to deal with these issues by mid morning Monday."