Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There are two questions. The first question was on chief executives. The policy we introduced in 2011 not to give performance-related pay to chief executives stays in place. I promised the Cabinet that I would review it annually. We reviewed it in 2013 and there was a determination that we continue with it because of economic circumstances. We will continue to review it periodically.

I believe we should get back to performance-related pay but we should have clear commercial targets set for the commercial semi-state companies. Where those targets are exceeded there might be a bonus remuneration added to chief executives' pay.

A question was asked about Irish Water. Bord Gáis Éireann and the staff group of unions have delivered on a transformational programme on pay, pensions and allowances under a programme that aims to save a total of €12 million in payroll costs. One element is allowance reform - that is, the discontinuance of legacy arrangements and allowances that used to be paid. This was implemented by the company throughout 2012 and delivered an estimated saving of €2.3 million to the company last year.

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