Massive pay hikes across State boards

CHAIRPERSONS of boards of State bodies will be paid more than the average industrial wage for what is essentially part-time work following a Government decision to increase their remuneration.

The average industrial wage is currently less than €32,000. But the top-earning chairpersons will now earn €35,000 a year, up from €19,046, after the Cabinet passed the increases proposed by Finance Minister Brian Cowen yesterday.

These include the chairs of Aer Lingus, the Dublin Airport Authority, An Post, Bord Gáis, the Central Bank, CIE, ESB, the Health Service Executive, the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority, and RTÉ.