AIB staff escape 90% super tax on bank bonuses

THE Government is introducing a 90% “super tax” on bank bonuses, but it won’t apply to the €40 million about to be paid to AIB staff.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan announced the new super tax last night, following outrage at the bonuses being paid to 2,400 AIB employees. His announcement followed a Fine Gael demand for a 99% super tax and for it to be applied to the AIB bonuses.

Fine Gael deputy leader James Reilly said it was “outrageous” a bank being bailed out by taxpayers would be paying the bonuses, which work out at an average €16,700 per recipient. However, Mr Lenihan told the Dáil last night that while he would introduce a 90% super tax, it would be “prospective rather than retrospective”.