Latest news with #remuneration
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
More than 150 staff at airport operator Daa earned over €150,000 last year
A total of 152 staff at the State-owned airport operator Daa earned above €150,000 each last year, figures show. Official figures also reveal the chief executive at the group, which runs Dublin and Cork airports and other subsidiaries, is not the organisation's highest-paid staff member in 2024. Last year one unnamed person had total remuneration of between €475,000 and €500,000. The company's chief executive Kenny Jacobs received a total package of €374,830. In a statement, Daa said it was a commercial business that received no public funding. It said it had to compete internationally for key personnel. READ MORE Eamon Ryan , then minister for transport, set out remuneration levels for the top earners at Daa in an appendix to a submission sent last summer to a government-appointed pay review for chief executives of commercial state companies. Mr Ryan's submission, which has been released by the Department of Transport , were based on figures for 2023. Those figures showed three staff were paid more than the chief executive, who that year received total remuneration of €347,457. The three were paid between €350,000 and €375,000. The document showed 137 personnel received total remuneration of more than €150,000 each in 2023. Mr Ryan's submission to the senior posts remuneration committee said that 3,864 personnel at Daa group earned less than €50,000, although this included part-time staff. He said remuneration for CEOs varied across international competitors in the aviation sector. Mr Ryan noted the head of Fraport, which runs Frankfurt Airport and has contracts at 30 others worldwide, had a total package of €1.65 million while the head of Aena, the state company that manages 46 airports in Spain, was paid €186,575 in 2023. Daa's annual report for 2024 showed 152 people received €150,000 or more last year. In addition, 88 employees were paid between €125,000 and €150,000, while 187 earned between €100,000 and €125,000. The company said: 'The State does not fund the remuneration of Daa staff, as Daa operates as a commercial business and receives no public funding. 'Aviation is a global industry and Daa competes for talent against other international airports and aviation businesses, as well as international retailers. 'Daa is a multinational commercial enterprise with operations in 14 countries across four continents, with several CEOs and management teams.' The annual report said Mr Jacobs received total remuneration of €374,830 last year – up from €347,457 the previous year. It said this figure included basic salary of €284,235 and pension contributions and other taxable benefits of €90,595 . It said Mr Jacobs did not receive a director's fee. Last month the Cabinet accepted many of the recommendations of the senior post remuneration committee. Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers said the upper limit on any proposed package would be the market rate . However, there would be no backdating of any increases to May 1st of last year, another committee recommendation, and no reintroduction of performance-related bonuses worth up to 25 per cent of salaries, which was also proposed.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
State utility firms told Minister chief executive pay limits posed ‘serious risks' to organisations
The chairs of the boards of Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), Uisce Éireann and the Land Development Agency warned last year that restrictions on pay for their chief executives posed 'real and serious risks' to the organisations. In a note to the Senior Posts Remuneration Committee, established last year, Department of Housing secretary general Graham Doyle said the boards of GNI and Uisce Éireann had also expressed 'serious concerns ... about the potential loss of the CEO at a critical time for both companies'. According to submissions sent by the department to the Government-appointed review body said the chairs of the two utility firms' boards had written to then minister for housing Darragh O'Brien about chief executive pay. This correspondence was copied to the then minister for public expenditure Paschal Donohoe , who had established the committee in March 2024 to advise on pay scales for senior public-sector jobs. READ MORE 'Attempts to improve the remuneration level have failed', the Department of Housing said in the document. It said the chief executives of Uisce Éireann and GNI had a base salary that was fixed at €225,000 with no provision for increments or indexation. [ ESB board had 'significant concern' that €318,000 salary was not sufficient for chief executive post Opens in new window ] It said within Uisce Éireann and GNI the senior management teams were entitled to performance-related awards. However, the chief executive was excluded from such payments. 'In Uisce Éireann, there are nine employees in the same band as the CEO (€225,001 to €250,000) and two employees in the final band of €250,001 to €275,000 (ie above the level of remuneration of the CEO). Currently, there are a number of executives in Uisce Éireann whose salaries are capped based on the approved headroom. This presents difficulties for key roles and for succession planning. Two executives left Uisce Éireann over the past 12 months.' It said in GNI there were also two employees paid more than the chief executive and that two executives had left the company over the previous year. Mr Doyle said when the chairs had contacted the minister 'in each case the argument has been put forward that the current constraints which exist in respect of pay pose very real and serious risks to the work of these three vitally important commercial State bodies, which are delivering critical infrastructure on behalf of the State and its citizens while, at the same time contributing to the wider economy.' He said the chairs had set out the challenges of recruiting and retaining high-calibre candidates. 'It is noted, for example, that in some cases the remuneration has remained unchanged at levels approved in early 2017, that the posts are time bound at five or seven years with no opportunity for renewal or for reappointment to any other position within the company, that taking up the position can involve the surrendering of an existing (often permanent) contract to the time-bound contract and the loss of a performance-related award, and finally, that the amount of time it can take an individual to secure employment at the end of time-bound period can, in itself, shorten the length of the actual term served.' Last month following the report of the review group, the Government signalled it would update rules to allow a 'market rate' to be paid to chief executives in commercial State companies.
CBC
27-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Why Quebec doctors are upset with the government's proposed changes to their salaries
Consultations are underway for Bill 106, which includes a plan to link up to 25 per cent of doctors' remuneration to performance indicators. But some physicians say they'll leave the profession unless modifications are made to the proposed law.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Talks stall between Quebec doctors, health minister on Bill 106
Doctors, foreground, sit a a legislature committee studying the remuneration of doctors at the legislature in Quebec City, Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Jacques Boissinot/ The Canadian Press) Conversations between Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé and the province's medical federations are stuck at a standstill. Both sides remained stubborn on Tuesday at the opening of consultations on Bill 106, which would change the way doctors are paid. Dubé's plan is to link up to 25 per cent of their remuneration to performance indicators, which have yet to be determined. The idea has been criticized by doctors, who argue that the government is moving towards a fast-food approach to medicine. Christian Dube Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube speaks at a legislature committee studying the remuneration oof doctors, at the legislature in Quebec City, Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press) In addition, the Federation of General Practitioners of Quebec (FMOQ) and the Federation of Medical Specialists of Quebec (FMSQ) have stated that if the government wants doctors to do more, it must provide them with resources, such as operating theatres. They warned that Dubé's Bill 106 undermines motivation, which could lead to an exodus of doctors from the province. According to FMOQ, 22 per cent of general practitioners are over 60. Pascale Breault, Marc-Andre Amyot, Isabelle Gaston, Benoit Heppell. Doctor Marc-Andre Amyot, president of the federation of general practicians (FMOQ) speaks at a legislature committee studying the remuneration of doctors, at the legislature in Quebec City, Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Dr. Pascale Breault, from the left, Marc-Andre Amyot, Dr. Isabelle Gaston and Dr. Benoit Heppell. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press) Bill 106 was tabled on May 8, amid negotiations to renew the framework agreement with two medical federations. Dubé has not ruled out passing the legislation under a gag order. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 27, 2025.
Irish Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Former health minister pushed for greater flexibility on CEO pay
Publicly-owned companies which do not rely on the State for funding should have greater freedom in setting pay rates for their top executives, former minister for health Stephen Donnelly told a government-appointed review of remuneration last year. Mr Donnelly said while some form of policy was necessary regarding chief executive remuneration in the commercial State sector, 'a strong case can be made for those bodies which do not have recourse to the State for funding to be dealt with in a different manner to reflect this'. In a letter to the Senior Post Remuneration Committee (SPRC) the then minister said: 'Perhaps such bodies could be permitted to offer an increased level of basic pay to their CEOs. Or the rules pertaining to the current headroom in pay required between the CEO and the next highest executive (usually held to be 10 per cent) could be altered.' SPRC chairwoman Maeve Carton had written to ministers, including Mr Donnelly, inviting them to make submissions regarding remuneration in commercial State companies that came under their auspices. READ MORE [ VHI swings back to profit as premium prices rise Opens in new window ] [ The Irish Times view on Irish health insurance Opens in new window ] Mr Donnelly said that as minister for health, VHI was the only commercial State company in his area. He said while it did not require State funding and operated in a competitive and commercial marketplace, VHI remained 'a valuable asset in State ownership'. 'Therefore I, and by extension the State, have a duty to ensure that it is not hindered in any meaningful way from carrying out its permitted activities in the highly competitive market in which it operates. 'The recruitment and retention of very highly qualified and skilled individuals, including at CEO level, is undoubtedly one of its main priorities and the provision of appropriate remuneration should reflect this.' He noted that VHI was the largest non-life insurance company in the State, with gross earned premiums in 2023 of €1.684 billion and over 1.2 million customers. It required a 'specific calibre of CEO', he said, who can successfully manage a company of its size and complexity. 'The applicable remuneration should reflect this,' he wrote. 'The new VHI (group) CEO role has changed to a large extent in recent years. In addition to being regulated by the Central Bank, it is now organised in a group structure with a number of growing subsidiary companies. It is an increasingly complex organisation that has expanded into the provision of health services as well as providing private health insurance.' VHI accounts for 2023 showed the annual basic salary for its chief executive officer was €287,000. In 2022, the insurer told a Government-appointed independent review panel that restrictions on pay and pensions were adversely impacting its ability to compete and grow. 'VHI is experiencing significant risk in recruiting and retaining colleagues based on State remuneration restrictions when benchmarked against industry equivalents. It has experienced difficulties in attracting and retaining senior staff. Remuneration restrictions mean that we are competing for the same talent that others are competing for without the same restrictions. It is vital for the long term sustainability of VHI and to allow us execute our business strategy that we are able to attract and retain the people we need to run and develop the business.' Last month following the report of the SPRC, the Government signalled it would update rules to allow a 'market rate' to be paid to chief executives in commercial State companies.
