Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I will answer that separately. I do not want to get into a discussion on the President, but the Deputy can be assured that the highest probity will attach itself to all his actions.

Of the other members of the group of 18 I mentioned, seven are CEOs of commercial semi-State bodies, all of whom have taken a reduction, although their salaries are still over €250,000. The Deputy will recall the process I outlined. I did not want simply to have a flat rate. I took some stick when I said I did not want the CEO of Bord na gCon paid the same as the CEO of the ESB; there should be differences. A process was undertaken by the previous Government called the Hay evaluation, which ranked pay grades in proportionate terms, and I have reduced these accordingly.

Of the rest of the 18, one is the CEO of a non-commercial semi-State body, and the rest are the Chief Justice, the President of the High Court and the Supreme Court judges.

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