James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 69: To ask the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 75 of 10 February 2010, if he will provide details of the employment packages and benefits provided to the chief executives of agencies under his aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12896/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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In my response to Question number 75 of 10th February, I indicated that I had asked my Department to provide the information in tabular form. I understand that this has since been provided to Deputy O'Dowd and I have asked that the information be also provided to Deputy Reilly.

In the case of commercial State bodies, the salary scales of chief executives are reviewed from time to time by the Minister for Finance and based on comparisons with posts in the private sector.

Salary ranges recommended through this system – known as the "Hay Rates" - were last approved by Government in 2007, with a further general sanction by the Department of Finance for revised pay ranges with effect from 1st September 2008.

In some cases, chief executives are on non-Hay rates. These are primarily cases where chief executives had already been on salaries higher than the Hay rates and opted not to move to a Hay contract.

Chief Executives of non-commercial State companies and agencies come within the remit of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration and have been subject to the salary reductions provided for in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No.2) Act 2009.

The Minister for Finance has indicated his concerns about top-level pay across the economy and has moved already in addressing this in the non-commercial sector. He has also confirmed that he will carry out a review of the pay of chief executives of the commercial State companies, including the transport companies. I understand the review is currently under consideration.