Irish CEOs earn €400,000 basic salary

A new survey has found that Ireland's chief executives are earning a basic salary of more than €400,000 a year.

Most double that figure, with additional payments and bonuses bringing average earnings to almost €900,000.

The survey carried out by the Sunday Independent shows that there has been an increase of 25% in the earnings of CEOs.

The average basic salary for a top chief executive in Ireland last year was €451,000 with many doubling that figure in bonuses and performance payments.

Profitable pension funds can accumulate in thousands for chief executives with the CEO of a listed company in Ireland accumulating a pension fund worth €3.4 million last year.

Those at the top of the earnings list here include AIB CEO Michael Buckley, CRH boss Liam O'Mahony and the head of Anglo Irish Bank Sean Fitzpatrick.