The biggest contributor last year was the operator of Irish Water and Bord Gáis, Ervia, which paid out a dividend of €139m.

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has confirmed 16 medical consultants have each made settlements of more than €300,000 arising from Revenue investigations.

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has confirmed that the Central Bank last year paid €29.9m in fees to consultants for their work in the banking crisis.

The chairman of NAMA has said that some builders operating under its regime are being paid salaries of up to €200,000.