Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2012
123. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason he tried to breach the €250,000 pay cap for the new Chief Executive Officer of the Dublin Airport Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52681/12]
View answerIn imposing the €250,000 pay ceiling, the Government decision at the time made it clear exceptions might be necessary in a small number of cases where the role was of substantial importance and a candidate brought exceptional or special expertise or qualifications. The CEO of the DAA is responsible for managing three international airports which accommodate almost 20 million passenger journeys per year in addition to an international business that operates retail outlets around the World and part-owns or manages airports overseas. He or she is responsible for the jobs of hundreds of people. The CEO is expected to go ‘toe to toe’ with airline CEOs who are paid millions of euros per annum and the market for CEOs of this nature is international and, whether it is right or not, very highly remunerated.
The person whom the Board identified in the case referred to by the Deputy is a top class international candidate. He held a position abroad with a salary which was many multiples of the Government's €250,000 cap. In negotiating with this exceptional candidate, the Dublin Airport Authority initially sought to make an offer which they felt would be necessary to attract his services and I supported them. The Deputy will appreciate that judgment calls have to be made in such situations and my judgment was that this was an exceptional circumstance as envisaged by Government.
In the event, I was very pleased that it was possible to secure the services of this candidate without breaching the €250,000 pay cap.
