“The decision by Minister Brian Lenihan to abandon plans to review the pay and benefits given to the CEO’s and senior executives in semi-State companies is further proof that Fianna Fail and the Greens target the vulnerable instead of the wealthy”, stated Seymour Crawford, Fine Gael TD for Cavan/Monaghan.

According to Deputy Crawford semi-State bosses’ pay varies but many earn more than the Taoiseach. Most have salaries and bonuses varying between €200,000 and €500,000 a year. “Last December, Minister Brian Lenihan announced that he would bring proposals to Cabinet ‘at an early date’ to review the pay arrangements for the Chief Executives of semi-States. Eight months later, nothing has happened and the Department of Finance has confirmed that the issue has been put on the long finger.”

Deputy Crawford added that Fianna Fáil and the Greens cut the pay of low paid public servants by 5%, cut child benefit by 10% and cut social welfare benefits paid to the unemployed, disabled, blind and sick. “However, senior civil servants and senior executives in the public service and State agencies were given a reprieve. Now it seems that the semi-State bosses are getting the same special treatment. Everyone accepts that cuts to pay and benefits were necessary but it had to be done in a way that was fair and be seen to be fair. Once again, Fianna Fáil has demonstrated that it has no interest in fairness when it comes to making hard decisions”, concluded Deputy Crawford.