Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

That reply represents a significant change since 9 December 2009. When I asked the Minister the same question on that date, he told me to look at the annual reports. The figures are not in the annual reports. We need more accountability. I welcome the fact that we are now at last to receive the figures.

Will the Minister request that figures be provided regarding those who report to the chief executives at the highest level, that is, at board level or just below it? We need more accountability from them. The remuneration of the chief executive of Dublin Airport Authority in 2007, the last year for which figures are available, was almost €700,000 per annum. I presume he was making some hay on that salary. Has this salary remained the same?

Is it the case that the pay cuts may not apply to chief executives subject to the pay rates described by the Minister? Is this a fair question? We need total transparency and accountability.

Is the Minister pleased or unhappy to hear that while most harbour authorities have informed the Joint Committee on Transport of the salaries of their chief executives, Shannon Foynes Port Company refuses to provide it with the salaries of the chief executive and harbour master and other companies such as that in Cork will not tell us how much they are paying their executives. State companies, particularly those in which the Minister is the main shareholder, and semi-State companies under his control that he subsidises and which report to him, must be absolutely accountable.

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