asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the present salary paid to the chairman of the Electricity Supply Board, the date on which this salary was increased to its present level, and by what sum was it increased.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Electricity Supply Board Chairman's Salary.
The present salary of the chairman of the Electricity Supply Board is £3,500 per annum, to which rate it was increased on 1st July, 1950, by £1,000 per annum.
Not so bad.
Go bhfoiridh Dia orainn.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary inform the House by whom was the decision made to increase this man's salary by £1,000 per annum? Was the decision made by the Taoiseach or by the Government? Will the Parliamentary Secretary further say what particular urge came upon the Government for the purpose of singling out this man to give him this substantial increase?
In accordance with statute, the responsibility for the appointment of directors of the Electricity Supply Board rests with the Government, who also decide the terms of appointment. The considerations which operated were that the Electricity Supply Board is a very large and successful public service. In the circumstances, and with the rises which have occurred in recent years in——
——the cost of living.
——the wages and salaries of a large number, in fact, of all the board's employees, it was deemed that the Chairman, who had successfully and over a long number of years rendered distinguished service in his appointment as Chairman, should be considered for an increase in salary.
Am I to take it that it is not true to say that this man secured an increase of £1,000 per annum because he was an intimate friend of the Taoiseach's?
Shame.
The suggestion which the Deputy makes hardly deserves an answer or reply. Anybody who knows the Deputy would not expect anything else from him. Lest, however, the public might in some way be misinformed or not have available to them the facts, I desire to say that the suggestion is quite contemptible. It is only right to say that the person who was appointed to the position of chairman of the Electricity Supply Board was originally appointed in 1930 by the Cumann na nGaedheal Government. He was subsequently reappointed on at least two occasions by the Fianna Fáil Government, and he was reappointed by this Government. He has, during his years of service, rendered very satisfactory and distinguished public service.
There is nothing very contemptible about an increase of £1,000 a year.
Question No. 52.