The post of Aer Lingus chief executive should pay in excess of £150,000 per year, the airline's non-executive chairman, Mr Bernie Cahill, has said. He said the post should attract the same rate as one would get in a similar company in the private sector.

Mr Cahill said chief executives in semi-state bodies were expected to perform to a very high standard. Mr Cahill pointed out that there were no long-term contracts for chief executives of semi-states, but if a company performed badly, "they are the first to get the boot".

Aer Lingus recently appointed Mr Garry Cullen as its new chief executive. The highly-rated Mr Cullen has worked in Aer Lingus for many years. The post currently attracts a salary of around £110,000 under current Government pay guidelines.

Mr Cahill said the 62 applications the post attracted had been narrowed down to six candidates - three internal and three external. The salary was an issue in only one case, he said.