Waterford Wedgwood's US-based director Mr Chris McGillvary is the highest-paid on the board, receiving €1.07 million (£842,693) last year, almost €200,000 more than the remuneration of Waterford chief executive Mr Redmond O'Donoghue. Waterford chairman Dr Tony O'Reilly received €64,000 in fees.

A spokesman for Waterford declined to comment on the remuneration disclosed in the 2000 annual report. But it is understood that Mr McGill vary's package is linked to US executive salaries, which tend to be higher than those on this side of the Atlantic. Bonuses for Waterford directors were sharply down on the exceptional trading year in 1999. Mr O'Donoghue received €810,000, down from the €1 million he got in 1999. Again, this was mainly due to a lower bonus. Finance director Mr Richard Barnes received €584,000, Mr Chris Johnson €309,000 and Mr Otmar Kusel €525,000, while the US-based Mr Sam Michaels received €786,000.

Former Wedgwood chief executive Mr Brian Patterson, who retires next May, received €554,000 while Mr John Foley got €101,000 for his 2 1/2 months on the board.