I propose to take Questions Nos. 126, 135 and 136 together.
Performance Related Award Schemes for the Civil Service, the Permanent Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, the Health Service and the Local Authorities were suspended in 2009. In relation to those Non Commercial State Sponsored Bodies (NCSSBs) who have approved PRAS in place, decisions on performance-related bonuses for chief executives and, where relevant, other senior staff are a matter for the Boards concerned. However, Secretaries General of Government Departments were informed (April 2009) that, notwithstanding the contractual issues involved, it would be appropriate that consideration of any bonus payments should be suspended. Secretaries General were asked to convey this position to the bodies and agencies under the aegis of their Departments. The suspension of such schemes was subsequently agreed in the overwhelming number of cases. Where suspended, PRAS may not be reintroduced without my prior consent.
In relation to the position of PRAS for CEOs in Commercial State Companies, my Department is in the process of writing to all Departments with Commercial State Companies under their aegis in the context of conducting a review of the current system. In the interim the position of this Government that — notwithstanding the contractual issues involved — performance payments are not appropriate in the current climate is well known.
As I have no direct role in the making of awards under any PRA Scheme, I am not aware of any awards having been made where the relevant Board/Remuneration Committee considered that an individual's performance was below par. As all PRA Schemes are, and where suspended were, based on achieving pre determined performance targets and goals, awards should not arise in such circumstances. In the case of, for example, CEOs of Commercial State Companies, the "Guidelines on Contracts, Remuneration and Other Conditions of Chief Executives and Senior Management of Commercial State Bodies" (March 2006) provide inter alia for performance related payments to be paid only where the performance criteria set by the relevant Boards have been met in full, that such criteria must impose challenging and demanding performance standards on the CEO and that a CEO should not be rewarded for results which are attributable primarily to external factors. As I have no statutory role in the remuneration, including the provision or otherwise of PRAS, for 2nd tier management in Commercial State Companies I do not have the information requested.
