High-earning chief executives at semi-State agencies could face wage cuts, after the Cabinet approved a proposal to examine whether current pay and bonuses were appropriate in the economic downturn.
This group will be separate from the Review Group on State Assets, to be chaired by economist Colm McCarthy, which will consider selling public-sector assets, including commercial State companies.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey and Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan are the line Ministers for most of the State bodies concerned.
Mr Ryan said recently he was opposed to the privatisation of State assets that were “delivering”.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael’s communications and natural resources spokesman Leo Varadkar has today proposed that a new semi-State company be established to take control of Ireland’s water supply from the 34 local authorities,
Mr Varadkar also said the major energy sector State enterprises - ESB, Bord Gais, Bord na Mona and Coillte – should come under the control of a single holding company.
The Freedom of Information Act should also be extended to cover the semi-States where the information sought is not commercially sensitive, he said.
