I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 226 together.
The Deputy should note that I have already provided the information he seeks when responding to his parliamentary questions of 15th November 2012 (Ref No. 50509/12) & 20th November 2012 (Ref No. 51025/12).
For his convenience I am including the information below.
“The Deputies will be aware that my Department is presently engaged in a Review of Remuneration Practices and Frameworks at the covered institutions. I have recently engaged, as I informed the Opposition Spokespersons on Finance, the services of Mercer (Ireland) Limited following a limited competitive tender competition to assist my Department in bringing this exercise to a conclusion. The estimated cost of the review, at this stage, is approximately €120,000.
The object of the review is to thoroughly review all remuneration practices at the covered institutions with the object of simplifying remuneration and compensation structures, discouraging excessive risk-taking and to better align pay and reward to long term value creation. Present Government policy on remuneration dictates that no employee, at the covered institutions may receive more than €500,000 (excluding pension contributions) per annum and remains in force.
Numerous engagements by my officials and Mercer have taken place since the awarding of the contract. I am expecting the consultant’s report to be delivered by year end whereupon consultations with the various stakeholders will commence.
As I have said previously, I fully recognise that there is a real public interest in the levels of remuneration at the covered institutions and have committed to placing the details underpinning the review into the public domain”.
In relation to his further question on additional resources, no such resources have been provided by me or my Department to Mercer to facilitate the completion of the work.
As the review involves the Covered Institutions the Central Bank of Ireland & the National Asset Management Agency are not included in its remit.
