Semi-State bosses cash in with bonus bonanza

SEMI-STATE bosses received bonuses averaging between €16,000 and €35,000 each on top of significant salary increases despite falling profits and thousands of job losses, an Irish Examiner survey reveals.

A survey of salaries and bonuses paid to the chief executives of semi-State companies over the past two years reveals that bosses at An Post, Aer Lingus, the ESB and Aer Rianta pocketed handsome pay increases and bonuses as profits nosedived.

Communications Minister Dermot Ahern said semi-State chief executives and not board members must be held responsible for the state of their companies.