Significant pay increases for the semi-state sector's top earners may be sanctioned by the Cabinet within weeks. A spokeswoman for the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, confirmed yesterday that a report from the English-based Hays management consultancy was due before Cabinet shortly.
The report was commissioned by the Government after the implementation of the Buckley recommendations earlier this year. The Buckley recommendations were implemented in full, except for the salaries of chief executives who received a 10 per cent increase.
However, the Government decided to ask consultants to go into each semi-state company and evaluate the chief executive's job and a suitable salary grid. That work is now complete and sources last night suggested that the Hays report will urge extra remuneration for the chief executives.