SEVENTY per cent of people believe chief executives of semi state companies should be paid the same as their counterparts in the private sector, an Irish Times/MRBI poll has shown.
Just 3 per cent said chief executives in the public sector should be paid more than those in private industry, but 20 per cent said they should be paid less.
The poll comes at a time when aspects of the remuneration of Bord na Mona chief executive Dr Eddie O'Connor have been investigated by a firm of chartered accountants. Dr O'Connor's total remuneration exceeded the guidelines set down for pay in the public sector.
It also coincides with the examination of pay across the state sector by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration chaired by Mr Michael Buckley of AIB. The body is due to report by the end of the year.
The survey also asked if more semi state companies should be sold off to private investors. It found almost half of those questioned (48 per cent) felt State companies should be privatised. A further 35 per cent, or one third, said State assets should not be sold to private investors and 17 per cent expressed no opinion.
At present only Telecom Eireann is being prepared for sale to outside investors. The Government is negotiating with two consortiums for a strategic alliance which will see an investor take 35 per cent of the State company.
