Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

In the case of commercial State bodies, the salary scales of chief executives are reviewed from time to time by the Minister for Finance and based on comparisons with posts in the private sector. Salary ranges recommended through this system, known as the Hay rates, were last approved by Government in 2007, with a further general sanction by the Department of Finance for revised pay ranges with effect from 1 September 2008. In some cases, chief executives are on non-Hay rates. These are primarily cases where chief executives had been already on salaries higher than the Hay rates and opted not to move to a Hay contract. Chief executives of non-commercial State companies and agencies come within the remit of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration and have been subject to the salary reductions provided for in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No.2) Act 2009.

The Minister for Finance has indicated his concerns about top-level pay across the economy and has moved already in addressing this in the non-commercial sector. He has also confirmed that he will carry out a review of the pay of chief executives of the commercial State companies, including the transport companies. I understand he will be announcing proposals in this regard in the near future.

I have asked my Department to provide the Deputy with the salary scales and ranges for the chief executives in tabular form.

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