Seanad debates

Tuesday, 29 November 2011

1:00 pm

Photo of Brian Ó DomhnaillBrian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I wish to acknowledge that the chief executive of Coillte Teoranta has agreed to take a 15% pay cut. I support Senator Darragh O'Brien's call for a debate on the forthcoming budget and on the pay rates which continue to be paid in the semi-State organisations. Mr. Gunning, the chief executive officer of Coillte, is on a salary of almost €300,000 and earned in excess of €430,000 last year. Despite efforts by the previous Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, verbally and in writing to the board of Coillte, it refused to waive a €56,000 bonus to that same gentleman in 2008. This must be discussed in this House in the context of public expenditure on semi-State organisations. I had requested that the pay of the chief executive officer of Coillte be discussed at the Oireachtas Joint Committee of Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture meeting today. In light of that, I assume the pressure exerted on Mr. Gunning resulted in him reflecting on the situation in recent days and we welcome that reflection. However, it is only part of the solution.

I refer to the very regrettable position in which we find ourselves this morning with the Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 having been rushed through this House-----

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