Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We have discussed this at length. Deputies Donnelly and McDonald are proposing the deletion of the entire list of exempt and part-exempt bodies. I do not propose to accept the Deputies’ amendments.

I do not believe one could have a commercial State sector operating to a completely different set of rules from its competitors. It would hamstring their capacity in achieving the best interests of the shareholder, namely, the citizen. They have to be allowed to operate on an equal footing with commercial companies which are not subject to freedom of information.

I had long discussions with my friend and colleague, the Minister for Finance, on NAMA, the National Asset Management Agency. I accepted the case he made that the disclosure of full information relating to the remuneration of NTMA company staff would place the body at a serious commercial disadvantage in recruiting and retaining expertise. Many people are migrating out of these bodies. As the economy recovers, pay rates in the private sector are robust in comparison to pay rates in the NTMA and NAMA. I have had discussions about improving taxpayers’ knowledge of remuneration rates in the agencies.

The Deputy is aware that in the annual report and accounts the NTMA provides information on remuneration of top level staff on an anonymised basis on a €50,000 width band. It sets out how many are in X category, X category plus €50,000, Y category plus another €50,000 and so on. In keeping with the need to promote greater openness on pay I requested that the NTMA should take further steps to disclose additional information on remuneration levels. I suggested that those bands would be reduced to €25,000. In discussions, the NTMA has agreed to that, and to reduce the pay bands in its 2013 annual report to reflect that. I do not think I am in a position to accept the amendment in that regard.

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